Elite must make sacrifices

Elite must make sacrifices

From Rakyat Merdeka

Indonesians are confused. The hostility between Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and Muhammadiyah, the tension between President Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid and the House of Representatives/People's Consultative Assembly, and the fall of the rupiah value against the U.S. dollar, are just a sample of the problems ailing our beloved republic. These diseases must be cured soon or else they will lead to a more dangerous disintegration virus that will affect all people in this country. Gus Dur, the highest representative of authority, cannot alone solve these problems.

It's not only that. The situation worsens when the House does not talk about the interests of the nation. They do not discuss how to improve the value of the rupiah against the dollar, nor do they actively address the many riots that are taking place.

The popular speculations whether the fall of Gus Dur would improve the situation offers no solution to these real problems.

But the nation's crisis, which has now become a multidimensional one, can only be solved if political groups and their representatives are willing to make sacrifices by putting aside their personal or group interests. If this happens, I think the special session proposed for the People's Consultative Assembly need not be held.

IMAM SUDJUDI

Jakarta