Enemy number one

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