Govt vows to keep stability intact

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.