Erratic reshuffle
Erratic reshuffle
President Abdurrahman Wahid may have been exercising his
constitutional prerogative in reshuffling the Cabinet on Friday,
but he still owes the nation a logical explanation as to why he
made those changes. Unfortunately, his explanation after the
announcement fell short of expectation, and, with regards to the
dismissal of Coordinating Minister of Political, Social and
Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, it raises more
questions than it gives answers. For those who find it
increasingly difficult to make any sense out of Abdurrahman's
recent policies, bear in mind that we are dealing with a
president whose middle name is erratic.
Susilo has been a key figure in Abdurrahman's Cabinet for much
of the past year as the President faced growing pressure to step
down. A retired three-star Army general and a highly capable and
competent administrator, Susilo has always come across as a loyal
and dependable, yet independent, figure in the Cabinet, earning
him the respect of supporters as well as critics of the
President. His presence lent credence to the administration at a
time when the President's own credibility and popularity were
rapidly waning over allegations of corruption and misrule.
As a former Army man, Susilo was also a key link between the
President and the Indonesian Military (TNI), a role he played
effectively, especially when relations between the head of state
and his generals were not always smooth.
We mean no disrespect for his successor Agum Gumelar, but
Susilo was also known for standing up to the President whenever
the occasion merited it. Susilo, for example, used his position
of influence effectively in counseling Abdurrahman against
declaring a state of emergency on two occasions this past week.
Citing intelligence reports, Susilo last week publicly
contradicted Abdurrahman's oft-repeated claim -- that six
provinces would break away from the republic if the President was
ousted from office.
Some might call what Susilo did acts of insubordination, but
the job of a minister is not simply to carry out the President's
orders, but also to advise him on the proper course of action and
to correct him when he errs, even if it means putting the
ministerial post on the line. In all likelihood, this is the real
reason why Susilo lost his Cabinet post.
President Abdurrahman would be gravely mistaken if he thinks
he can safely declare a state of emergency now that Susilo is out
of the way. Both TNI and the National Police, the two forces that
would have to implement the draconian measures under a state of
emergency, have made it clear they will not support the President
in such a move.
Susilo's opposition to the President's plan this past week had
spared the leadership in the military and the police from having
to disobey their supreme commander. Agum Gumelar, another former
Army man who is the new chief security minister, should continue
to block the plan, because, as we all know, the real reason the
President wants to impose a state of emergency is to enable him
to dissolve the House of Representatives and arrest his political
rivals before they can move to impeach him.
Susilo's departure represents a tremendous loss to President
Abdurrahman. The Cabinet increasingly looks more like a bunch of
yes-men, depriving the President of the wisdom and the experience
of able and competent figures like Susilo.
President Soeharto in his last Cabinet also surrounded himself
with men and women not known for contradicting him. The
consequence was disastrous for him personally and for the nation.
If Soeharto's experience in 1998 is any indication, Susilo's
departure could speed up the collapse of the Abdurrahman regime.
At any rate, Friday's Cabinet reshuffle showed a President who
has become more and more isolated, not only from the people, but
also from people who were once his loyal and trusted aides.