Future is in your hands: Gus Dur tells military cadets

Future is in your hands: Gus Dur tells military cadets

MAGELANG, Central Java (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid said
here on Wednesday that the country's future lies with the younger
generation and called on the nation not to rely heavily on people
of his age.

"The future will be in your hands because people like me, I am
already 60, and actually it is time for me to rest," Abdurrahman
told cadets at the National Military Academy.

"We will soon leave you all and it is you who will inherit
everything," the President added.

Faced with political dissension by legislators, Abdurrahman's
health has also been a major concern since he became president in
October, 1999.

Before assuming office, Abdurrahman suffered at least two
strokes.

Some political opponents, who accuse the President of being
inconsistent and erratic in policy making, have blamed this on
his health problems.

Abdurrahman's statement came as he is currently under intense
pressure from the House of Representatives after being censured
for his alleged involvement in two multimillion dollar corruption
scandals. Abdurrahman has denied any wrongdoing.

One of the scandals concerns a US$2 million aid donation from
the Sultan of Brunei. The other centers on the mishandling of Rp
35 billion from the National Logistics Agency by Abdurrahman's
masseur.

The House censure could lead to a protracted impeachment
process.

Many analysts have suggested that the President defuse the
crisis by handing over day-to-day running of the administration
to Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri.

There have been a series of violent protests both for and
against Abdurrahman in the past two weeks.

Speaking later in the day, presidential spokesman Yahya Staquf
denied that Abdurrahman's statement was a hint that he would soon
step aside.

Yahya was quoted by Antara as saying that the President's
comments were intended to encourage the military cadets to work
hard.

Abdurrahman here on Wednesday also said that he "has been
dreaming of having an administration where politicians would only
be involved in the decision making process but not in policy
implementation".

"The policy implementation should be carried out by
professional bureaucrats," the President said.

Abdurrahman then called on the military cadets to become
"professional military officers" and to dedicate their life to
developing the country.

Also present here on Wednesday were, among others,
Coordinating Minister for Political, Social and Security Susilo
Bambang Yudhoyono, Transportation and Telecommunication Minister
Agum Gumelar, the Indonesian Military Chief Adm. Widodo A.S. and
three military chiefs of staff.

Speaking later in the day in the Central Java capital of
Semarang, Abdurrahman told cadets at the Police Academy to live
up to the challenges of the future.

"Police need to be able to look at what lies ahead of them,"
Abdurrahman said.

Since the separation of the police from the military two years
ago, there has been widespread hope the move would render them
more independent and less repressive when maintaining law and
order.

A police separation from the military was one of the demands
made by proreform activists. They argued police should return to
their original role as law and order enforcers, instead of acting
as a combat force.

The police force was incorporated into the military in 1966 on
the principle that it had the same obligation as the military to
protect the nation from foreign aggressors.

Many analysts have said that under the military, the police
are inclined to adopt a military approach and prone to exercising
repressive measures.

Abdurrahman also called on the police to decide on whether
they would still be under the central command system or divided
into smaller units which were responsible to the regional
governments.

Earlier at the sprawling complex of the Military Academy in
Magelang, Abdurrahman also planted an annona reticulata tree,
which symbolizes goodness. (44/har)