Gus Dur and pace of reform
Gus Dur and pace of reform
It is indeed "a puzzlement" that the same population that
tolerated repression, oppression, corruption and official
violence for 32 years will not allow the new government even six
months to rebuild the rotting institutions they inherited --
particularly the banking, legal and judicial systems. Instead
there are demands for resignations and special sessions of the
House of Representatives (DPR), and even talk of impeachment.
Is this fair or productive? It is a healthy development that
in the New Indonesia public criticism of high officials whose
performance is substandard is permitted and actually encouraged
by President Abdurrahman Wahid (Gus Dur). But when the criticism
is motivated by personal or partisan political ambition, which
some of the current criticism seems to be, it is not only
dishonest but also life-threatening to the new government and the
nation.
In the face of extreme national tension in the critical days
immediately following the election, Gus Dur inspired a confidence
that kept rival political groups calmed and supportive of the
ideal of national unity. He succeeded in moving the military
branch of government to where it belongs, to a position
subordinate to civil authority. He has even handled some problems
effectively by seeming not to handle them. Some of the
President's missteps might be characterized as serious; e.g. his
rash promises to community groups, made without consultation with
the DPR. Such mistakes should be challenged. But there is a big
difference between a serious mistake, or even multiple serious
mistakes, and culpable failure. It seems beyond all proportion to
charge the President at this point with failing in his
responsibilities.
No president or economic affairs minister or attorney general
could solve Indonesia's problems, as deeply entrenched and far-
reaching as they are, in a few months. Decisive and honest
action, not instant results, may be a better test of their
performance. Arief Budiman identified a key weakness in the
President's inventory of skills, his lack of a modern approach to
management. However, Gus Dur's key strengths, his personal
integrity and credible devotion to the people of Indonesia, more
than compensate for his lesser vices. Is there anyone better
equipped to accomplish what the country needs to accomplish
during the first stage of becoming a real democracy, than this
President?
DONNA K. WOODWARD
Medan, North Sumatra