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)