Govt vows to keep stability intact

A'an Suryana, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Gen. (ret) Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono assured foreign and domestic investors on Friday that the government would continue providing conducive political and security infrastructure for business investment.

Addressing an international seminar titled Doing Business in a Democratic Indonesia, the four-star general said that Indonesia's political and security conditions were improving, turning the country into an attractive destination for foreign and domestic investment.

"In the field of law enforcement, progress is being made as some big cases, which had offended people's sense of justice, are being pursued in court," said Susilo.

He was apparently referring to corruption charges against House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung, who is currently on trial for allegedly misappropriating Rp 40 billion belonging to the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) in 1999. He could face 20 years in jail if convicted.

Susilo said that in the field of security, the intensity of communal conflicts had subsided in regions, including Aceh, Papua and Poso.

Social unrest and secessionist movements intensified almost immediately after Soeharto, who ruled the country for more than three decades, was forced to resign in 1998. Sectarian violence such as in Ambon and Poso, Central Sulawesi, have not only claimed thousands of innocent lives, but have also scared off investors.

Susilo stressed that Indonesians were now enjoying relative stability after a period of unpredictability and conflict from 1998 to 2001.

"We are no longer seeing the political elite use their supporters as pressure groups, and all members of the political elite have agreed to a political moratorium until 2004," he said.

According to Susilo, improvements in political and security conditions suggested that Indonesia had moved out from its multidimensional crisis, which had plagued the country since 1997.

"The improvements allow investors to start doing business here," said Susilo.

To keep stability in the country intact, the government set and implemented four priorities in political and security affairs.

"We are intensifying conflict resolutions especially in Aceh, Papua and Maluku, and are finalizing the solution processes in Poso, Atambua and Kalimantan," he said.

The government is making a concerted effort among legal agencies to deal with cases where there is a clear sense of injustice among the people, and to prevent the recurrence of corruption, collusion and nepotism (KKN), said Susilo.

The government is also fighting terrorism in order to ensure people's safety and to safeguard Indonesia's international security, as well as to fulfill Indonesia's commitment as one of the UN's member countries and international communities.

Especially on investor security in certain locations, Susilo conceded that some business operators in remote areas had experienced deteriorating security, and increased theft and vandalism in the regions.

"This is a result of reform euphoria. However, we have instructed local police units to take more decisive action concerning the matter," he said.