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)