Govt to establish National Reconciliation Team

Govt to establish National Reconciliation Team

JAKARTA (JP): President B.J. Habibie gave the go-ahead on
Friday for the establishment of a National Reconciliation Team to
head off the rising threat of disintegration and separatism in
the country.

Minister of Justice Muladi said the team -- comprised of
Cabinet ministers, human rights activists and other public
figures -- was expected to unite all of the nation's forces,
encourage people to turn past adverse experiences into bitter but
valuable lessons for a better future and bridge gaps between
conflicting parties in the society.

"It means we will try to put (the desire for) revenge (as
something of) the past, without negating law enforcement," Muladi
said after a three-hour meeting between the President and a
delegation from the National Commission on Human Rights at the
State Guest House. The meeting was a follow-up to their first
meeting in June.

The discussion focused on the human rights situation in the
country and the effort to find the best way to create a
harmonious civil society. The commission had suggested the
establishment of the team in June.

The President was accompanied on Friday by Coordinating
Minister for Economy, Finance and Industry Ginandjar
Kartasasmita, Minister of Defense/Armed Forces Commander Gen.
Wiranto, Minister of Home Affairs Syarwan Hamid, Army Chief of
Staff Gen. Subagyo Hadisiswoyo and Muladi.

The commission's delegation included Marzuki Darusman, Sri
Soemantri, Miriam Budiardjo, Charles Himawan, and Samsudin.

"The creation of the team to forge national integration is
very important nowadays, as the society is being threatened by
separatism and disintegration," Muladi said.

Asked whether opposition figures such as Amien Rais and
Megawati Soekarnoputri would also be invited to join the team,
Muladi replied: "A national reconciliation team has been formed
initially between the government and the rights commission and we
do not exclude the possibility that it can be expanded to cover
non-governmental organizations."

The President appointed Muladi as a liaison official between
the government and the other institutions. The government will be
represented by Coordinating Minister for Political and Security
Affairs Feisal Tanjung, Wiranto and Muladi.

"We will soon contact all necessary elements of the society,"
Muladi noted.

Ginandjar, according to Muladi, pointed out the importance of
national reconciliation in creating a conducive atmosphere for
the country's economic recovery.

"Pak Ginandjar described our economic situation, which I think
is also in critical condition, although we remain optimistic,"
Muladi noted.

Marzuki termed the team an "informal team for national
reconciliation".

He said national reconciliation was needed because the
country's unity was endangered if people's relationships were
marked by suspicion and the government was continually
distrusted.

Marzuki qualified his statement by stating that reconciliation
did not mean people, including former president Soeharto and his
cronies, could enjoy impunity if they were guilty of wrongdoing
in the past. (prb)