Edi blasts govt for lacking sense of crisis

Edi blasts govt for lacking sense of crisis

JAKARTA (JP): Chairman of the Justice and Unity Party (PKP)
Edi Sudradjat rebuked President B.J. Habibie on Monday for his
slow response to widespread violence and his perceived reluctance
to visit riot-devastated areas.

Edi, former Army chief of staff and minister of defense and
security, also faulted Minister of Defense/Armed Forces (ABRI)
chief Gen. Wiranto for his inability to halt the rampant unrest.

"Habibie and Wiranto must go to the spots to feel the agony
the people are experiencing and solve the problems directly," Edi
said on the sidelines of a discussion organized by Forum Keadilan
weekly.

Persistence of the unrest despite the government's painstaking
efforts is evidence the people have lost their trust in the
government and military leadership, he said.

"People no longer believe in those in power or in positions of
command."

Both chairwoman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle
(PDI Perjuangan) Megawati Soekarnoputri and chairman of the
National Mandate Party (PAN) Amien Rais have urged Habibie to
visit Ambon in Maluku and Sambas in West Kalimantan. They said
Habibie, as the nation's leader, should share in the public's
grief.

Habibie has yet to decide whether to visit the areas. He is
scheduled to visit Aceh, also long vulnerable to unrest, on
Friday.

Chairman of the Nahdlatul Ulama Muslim organization
Abdurrahman Wahid disagreed with the demand. He said there was no
guarantee the President's presence would restore order and it
could exacerbate the instability.

"The President indeed has to calm down the situation, but his
presence is not always necessary because it perhaps could cause
new security problems."

Abdurrahman, widely known as Gus Dur, believed the hostilities
would fully die down at the end of this month at the latest.

"People will eventually understand (there is no need to fight)
and they will be exhausted," he said.

Abdurrahman also clarified an earlier reported statement that
he would no longer meet with former president Soeharto because
the latter had not shown any political will to exert his
influence to stop the riots.

"What I said was that I did want to go to Jl. Cendana
(Soeharto's Central Jakarta residence) anymore, but it does not
mean that I do not want to meet him again."

He has visited Soeharto at his residence on at least three
occasions in the past year.

Meanwhile, a Ministry of Foreign Affairs official said United
Nations principles stipulate the state or government is
responsible for any rights abuses occurring during riots or
unrest.

The ministry's acting director of international organizations,
A. Agus Sriyono, was quick to add that such a responsibility
could be leveled on the government only if violations were
committed by state or government officials through regulations or
measures against the people.

"When a state official violates the agreed human rights
principles, it is clear that the government must be held
responsible," Antara quoted him saying on the sidelines of a
national seminar on human rights in Denpasar, Bali. (edt/prb)