Gen. (ret) Wiranto, Adi Sasono, Fuad Bawazier and Eros Djarot

Gen. (ret) Wiranto, Adi Sasono, Fuad Bawazier and Eros Djarot have been accused of being behind the recent student demonstrations. However, it is not easy to judge the validity of the State Intelligence Body (BIN)'s report on this, which it unveiled during a hearing with the House of Representatives last week.

Wiranto, former coordinating minister for political and security affairs, has denied the accusation.

The four men do have a different political stance from that of the government. And being critical and helping student demonstrations is not against the law. Things become serious if these activities are translated as an effort to topple the government. BIN also reported about the students' plan to escalate their demonstrations, which is feared would lead to chaos.

Intelligence agencies should not be used to help the government stay in power and protect it from attack by its (political) rivals. Intelligence reports such as the one from BIN are dangerous and damaging to the reputation of the "accused".

Wiranto has said that the report (on him) was completely false and character assassination. Wiranto and the other three "accused" should channel their denials to House Commission I during a special hearing.

Apart from the accusations in the intelligence report, Wiranto is a controversial figure linked (directly or indirectly) to a series of violent incidents. This includes the violence in East Timor following the independence referendum there, for which he should be held responsible.

-- Koran Tempo, Jakarta

Democratic civilization

Criticism, opposition and demonstrations are not against the law in democracies. Politicians making use of the recent situation here for their own political interests also is legal. The most important thing for politicians is whether or not they can feel the pulse of the people.

In such a situation as we have here, politicians, both from the government and the opposition, must be intelligent about consoling the people. Those ruling the country also should have a clear yardstick for monitoring the opposition. As long as those opposing the government's policies are not trying to topple the government, the government should not take any action against them. Accusing the opposition (of subversion) is a contra- productive move. The terms "mastermind" and "being behind" were old terms used by the New Order regime.

Gen. (ret) Wiranto, one of four people accused of being behind the recent student demonstrations, has called on the political elite not to spread more defamation. The problem is, does Wiranto really not know anything about the student demonstrations? What about a series of meeting he attended? He should be honest if he funded the student demonstrations, because funding demonstrations is not a sin. But if he is "clean" the country is obviously full of defamation and slander.

-- Republika, Jakarta

Floods are menacing

In early February last year, heavy rain submerged many parts of the capital, including areas that had never before touched by flood waters. The flooding claimed many lives and crippled the capital for days.

Thousands of people had to spend nights in their vehicles or in roadside shelters because the roads to their homes were underwater.

Now, one year later, we are again entering February and heavy rains are expected. The peak of the rainy season for Greater Jakarta is expected to be in February.

Gunawan Ibrahim, head of the Meteorology and Geophysics Agency, has warned people to be alert as the soil will not be able to absorb excessive rain water. He said preparation and precaution are necessary to anticipate the flooding.

-- Warta Kota, Jakarta