Govt warned over fears on openness

JAKARTA (JP): Speaker of the House of Representatives Wahono warned yesterday that the government's excessive fear of increasing political openness might heighten tension among authorities in the field which, in turn, could trigger unjustified violence.

Repressive judicial action, appeals and condemnations would not resolve the mounting social unrest, he said after swearing in 10 new members of the House and the People's Consultative Assembly.

"There should be open forums and dialogs where people can release their frustration in an orderly and civilized manner," Wahono said.

Wahono, a former Army lieutenant general and a one-time chief of the ruling Golkar party, pointed out that the heightening social unrest has been fueled by the absence of such forums.

He admitted that the House is unable to channel the public's desires satisfactorily at a time when many people's political awareness is improving thanks to the rapid development that Indonesia has achieved.

If the House at the national level and the legislative councils in the regencies and provinces fail to improve their function, social disturbances would escalate, he warned.

"Social upheaval will set the clock backward. The ideal for democracy will never become reality because the security approach will prevail again," he said.

Wahono did not give concrete cases to illustrate his ideas.

Over the past month, Indonesia has seen a number of major outbursts that observers attribute to the lack of democracy and the government's insistence on suppressing political dissidents.

Last week, staunch government critic and democracy campaigner Sri Bintang Pamungkas launched a new party -- a move that sparked wrath from both the government and military officials.

Last month, the military in Ujungpandang, South Sulawesi, came under attack after its forcible dispersal of massive student demonstrations led to the deaths of three protesters.

Indonesia is also facing increasing numbers of land and labor dispute cases at a time when the government is a constant target of human rights abuse allegations.

Wahono criticized the government for holding back information on state officials that the public know have a "low integrity."

"It's useless to suppress people's political wishes by feeding them with false information," he said.

The House speaker suggested that the government heed the people's wishes because the public's demands for democracy are increasing in line with Indonesia's economic development success.

He said he believes the spirit of democracy will be able to crush the spirits of sectarianism and feudalism that some groups are trying to promote.

Wahono said that no one should interpret the 1945 Constitution rigidly simply to justify their political maneuvers.

"We all know that our constitution is dynamic and wide open to accommodate contemporary demands," he noted.

The five House members that Wahono installed were Bakir Alie, Siti Ainomi Rudy Lengkong, Fachruddin Razi, Aisyah Radjeng Pananrang (all from the Golkar faction) and Albertus Pranowo (a member of the Armed Forces faction).

The five People's Consultative Assembly members are Col. Muchdi Purwo Pranyono, Col. Nyoman Suwisma, Maj. Gen. EE Mangindaan, Darwis Rida Zainuddin and Let. Gen. FX Sudjasmin.

The new legislators replaced either those who have died or been transferred to other posts by their respective organizations. (pan)