Condition not recovered
Condition not recovered
From Jurnal Indonesia
The reform movement's main goal is the democratization of all
walks of life which can be achieved by 1) dismantling the
nation's system and political life, 2) demolishing the system and
economic life of the "families and cronies" created by the New
Order regime and changing it into a popular economy based on
public interests and welfare, 3) upholding the supremacy of law
and human rights.
How far have the reform movement's magnificent dreams been
realized?
Initially, President Abdurrahman Wahid, or Gus Dur, looked
serious and fervent in his endeavors to meet the reform
movement's demands for the establishment of a civil society. This
has been indicated by the measures he took and the decisions he
made such as the dissolution of two ministries, i.e. the ministry
of social affairs, where corruptors were nestling, and the
ministry of information which hindered the freedom of the press.
Other indications of Gus Dur's seriousness in tackling
problems are the release of Gen. Wiranto as the military
commander and Gen. Djadja Suparman as strategic military
commander, the elimination of several military institutions, etc.
But why hasn't our nation's condition been recovered yet, and
why are several aspects of our lives getting worse? Is Gus Dur's
administration really incapable of managing all those wrongs?
We certainly feel concerned and afraid that the reform
movement won't only become stagnant but will also undergo a
setback. It's evident most of the legislators haven't shown their
qualities and dignity. They prefer to emphasize their own
parties' or groups' interests, for example in using their rights
of interpellation, inquiry etc. And in the political life, the
bloody conflicts with ethnic and religious nuances in Maluku,
Central Sulawesi, Aceh and Papua haven't been adequately solved.
In the economic sphere, the rupiah remains weak and foreign
investments are not realized because of the absence of security
commitment. The government is still unable to regain
international and domestic confidence.
In the areas of law and security, what occurs is not the
upholding of the law or security maintenance but transgressions
of law and disregarded violent actions. Street justice has become
a so-called "culture".
We worry that the existing patterns of riots will contaminate
Papua and other places of disorder. And we don't want bomb blasts
to become a "culture" in this country. Don't let Indonesia turn
into a field of terrorism!
GUSTAF DUPE et al
Jakarta