Gradual reforms suggested

JAKARTA (JP): Leading political observers advocated yesterday careful and gradual reforms, saying that a revolution would only endanger the people and leave the country vulnerable to the emergence of a dictatorship.

Ryaas Rasyid, Siswono Yudohusodo and Hermawan Sulistyo agreed in a seminar on political and economic reforms that gradual change was the safest option for a country struggling to recuperate from a crippling economic crisis and to grow into a better nation.

"Should a revolution take place a dictator will emerge at the top of the political tree and take control of the situation," Ryaas told the seminar held to commemorate the first anniversary of the relaunch of Panji Masyarakat weekly.

Attended by 200 people, the seminar explored various reasons for the ongoing student protests across the country which are demanding an end to the economic crisis and economic and political reform.

Ryaas cited German dictator Adolf Hitler, who rose to power during a political crisis in the early 1930s.

He also said that reform should not be equated with revolution.

"Reform is a gradual process of non-destructive change," Ryaas, who is rector of the State Institute for Public Administration, said.

"Reform takes place to safeguard the nation from future crises," he added.

Siswono, a former minister of transmigration, said any movement for reform should be in compliance with the 1945 Constitution.

"If people want reform, they must channel their aspirations through constitutional mechanisms," he said.

He said the country's founding fathers had incorporated democratic principles in the Constitution, drafted in 1945.

"The principles are still applicable today," he added.

He also called for patience from those demanding reform.

"Doesn't every religion teach us that patience is a noble quality for human beings?" he asked.

"Why don't we give President Soeharto the opportunity to complete his term in office?" he added.

Some government critics said the new cabinet should be given only six months to prove their mettle, and be forced to resign if they failed to settle the economic crisis within that time.

Siswono said creating prosperity for the nation, through clean and credible governance, was neither simple nor easy.

"It would have taken me more than one term in office to create a positive image for my ministry," he said. Siswono served only one term, between 1993-1998, as transmigration minister. He was minister of public housing in the 1988-1993 cabinet.

He said he dismissed a number of staff members and demoted others during his most recent ministerial term.

Siswono said adherence to the Constitution should be the people's main concern, if they insisted on an immediate replacement of the state leadership.

"Article 2 of the 1945 Constitution allows for an immediate presidential election through an Extraordinary Session of People's Consultative Assembly (MPR)," he said.

He argued the most urgent reform required was to improve the recruitment system for the Assembly, the House of Representatives and lower legislative councils.

"In my opinion, reforms should begin in our legislative bodies because they are supposed to control the executive branch of the government," he said.

Meanwhile, Hermawan said there was a wide variety of reforms that would benefit the nation.

"We have immediate reforms within the next month," he said, "And, long-term reforms over the next 15 years."

The researcher from the Indonesian Institute of Sciences said reforms would need to be implemented in a variety ways.

"We have to talk about reforms in terms of personnel placement in the cabinet and other government positions," he said.

"We also have to talk about the replacement of those who hold power," he added. (imn)