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)