Focus on Soeharto a misguided issue

Recently, demonstrations aimed at pressuring the government to immediately try Soeharto have been held at a much greater intensity and frequency. Waves of thousands of students have tried to reach the residence of the country's former number one.

The mass media enthusiastically responded to these demonstrations. Some of them have even jotted down the scenario of how the palace would be besieged by the students. It seems now as if the main culprit of all the catastrophes that have hit this nation is Soeharto. Habibie's main mistake, it appears, is that he is not quick and serious enough to respond to the demand that Soeharto should be investigated and put on trial.

In my opinion, Soeharto's trial is an absolute necessity. There is no reason not to put him on trial. However, I beg to disagree with the notion that Soeharto is the source of all the disasters and misfortunes that this nation has experienced. To us, this nation's economic and political bankruptcy is attributable to the mistakes of the New Order regime, which was fully supported by the Armed Forces (ABRI) through its dual- function concept. These mistakes cannot be blamed on Soeharto alone because he is merely part of the militaristic and capitalistic regime.

Putting Soeharto on trial will not necessarily change the militaristic and capitalistic economic and political system developed by the New Order regime. Soeharto's trial will only touch the tip of the iceberg but will never destroy the iceberg itself, which will continue to pose a threat to attempts to uphold democracy in this country. This iceberg is the dual function of ABRI, which from the New Order era up to Habibie's administration has continued to demonstrate its character, namely authoritarianism and an inclination to fascism.

Therefore, if we wish to carry out thoroughly the mandate of total reform, which has been paid for with the blood and souls of the reform heroes, the only way is to revoke ABRI's dual function. The demand for the abolishment of ABRI's dual function should now be made the main focus of all prodemocracy movements, and not the trial of Soeharto. Soeharto is but a card that you can no longer play!

NEZAR PATRIA

Staff member, Education

and Propaganda Department

Executive Committee of

the Democratic People's Party (PRD)

Jakarta