Enemy number one

Go with reform missions. That is what readers found on the front page of The Jakarta Post on Sunday, June 6, 1999, in connection with raising a giant banner carrying a message of six reform goals, placed at that favorite campaigning site, the Welcome Monument, at the traffic circle in front of Hotel Indonesia.

For days, this place was crowded with thousands of political parties' campaigners, blocking traffic but forming a special attraction never before seen in the history of Jakarta. But it was very unfortunate that this campaign -- where party members tried to put their party flag on top of the monument -- resulted in injuries to some and death to one.

But what I want to point out in the six reform missions is the absence of the usual slogan "Bring Soeharto to court", a demand which has apparently waned. Instead, topping all six visions, and thus considered the most urgent and important, is the demand to abolish the dual function of the Indonesian Military (TNI).

Soeharto can rest a while because enemy number one of the students now is TNI, and its dual function, and perhaps this is because President B.J. Habibie sent a mission impossible to Switzerland and Austria. People could predict the results of complete failure even before the mission's members departed.

Students are becoming more lenient with their attitude toward Soeharto. If there is anything in their vision of reform connected with Soeharto, it is only placed in sixth and last place. Concurrently, the least important among the six of the visions is that the New Order should account for its deeds.

Again, TNI, formerly the Armed Forces (ABRI), is in the spotlight, as we can clearly see in the giant banner where the abolishment of the dual function is put as number one and so the most important.

Some weeks ago, when the students of Jakarta "paid a sudden visit" to the headquarters of the General Elections Committee (KPU), Mr. Alwi, a student from the FKSMI organization, said loud and clear that reform, in his group's view, has two objects and that is to hate Soeharto and to hate the New Order. Nothing was mentioned about the dual function. Well, time changes and demands change also.

Perhaps the dwindling attention to the misdeeds of Soeharto is created by the status quo camp, which commands big financial reserves. Soeharto's explanation of the Time article received widespread attention from the media and was repeated several times.

The Indonesian media has helped to keep Soeharto and his family in the hearts and minds for the people. When Soeharto and his family appeared at the Attorney General's Office, the press reported the color of the batik shirts they wore, the cars they were in and the vehicles' color, the police number and clearly also showed the bodyguards.

Meanwhile, TNI is in a less favorable position, being so busy with its duties all over the country and with no funds to play with. The only thing it can do is to keep silent and to continue with its duties to protect the people. This is the best attitude it can show, at least for the time being. One day, everybody will come to their senses and TNI will have to wait until then because its duty is to serve the people.

SOEGIH ARTO

Jakarta