Gus Dur forms 'compromise' Cabinet

JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid unveiled his 35- member Cabinet on Tuesday, reflecting what he described as a compromise among the country's major political forces, including the powerful Indonesian Military (TNI).

Compromise means retaining four ministers from the administration of former president B.J. Habibie, as well as tapping new and popular political figures.

Abdurrahman, popularly known as Gus Dur, also named to his Cabinet eight scholars, three businessmen and three activists.

Any influence of Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri in the selection of the Cabinet was manifest in the inclusion of two members of her Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), not in the inclusion of women.

Only two women were named to the Cabinet: environmental and consumer activist Erna Witoelar was named to head the Ministry of Settlement and Territorial Development and politician Khofifah Indar Parawangsa was appointed state minister of women affairs.

Abdurrahman said the Cabinet's two most pressing tasks were to speed up Indonesia's economic recovery and defend the country's territorial integrity.

The latter was an apparent reference to threats of disintegration as a result of regional discontent.

Economist and popular columnist Kwik Kian Gie of PDI Perjuangan leads the new economic team as coordinating minister for economy, finance and industry.

The finance ministry portfolio was given to Bambang Sudibyo, an economist from Gadjah Mada University.

Gen. Wiranto lost his twin posting as TNI commander and minister of defense and security, but was named the new coordinating minister for political affairs and security.

The other top job in the Cabinet, coordinating minister for people's welfare, went to United Development Party (PPP) chairman Hamzah Haz, who served as investment minister in president B.J. Habibie's Cabinet.

The defense portfolio, traditionally held by military men, was given to respected scholar Juwono Sudarsono.

"It was Gen. Wiranto who proposed Juwono," Abdurrahman said.

Another break from tradition was the appointment of Navy Adm. Widodo A.S. as TNI chief, a job monopolized in the past by Army officers.

In spite of talk of phasing the military out of politics, TNI controls three other Cabinet posts, including two strategic ministries. Lt. Gen. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was named to head the mines and energy ministry and Lt. Gen. Agum Gumelar was appointed to the transportation ministry. The other officer in the Cabinet is Rear Adm. Freddy Numberi, who is the current governor of Irian Jaya. He was named state minister of administrative reform.

New home minister Surjadi Soedirdja also is a retired Army lieutenant general.

On the appointment of Yudhoyono to one of the most lucrative and corruption-prone Cabinet posts, Abdurrahman said: "It's a heavy task which requires the presence of a heavyweight."

The Cabinet, announced by Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri at the Presidential Palace on Tuesday afternoon, comprises three coordinating ministers, 16 ministers overseeing departments and 14 state ministers. The attorney general and the TNI chief complete the lineup.

The previous Cabinet comprised four coordinating ministers, 20 ministers overseeing departments and 12 state ministers, plus the attorney general and TNI chief.

Negotiations

The President reportedly planned for a smaller Cabinet and as late as Monday a close aide said Abdurrahman was going to limit his Cabinet to 25. However, last-minute negotiations increased this number to the 35 announced by Megawati.

Abdurrahman said the lineup of the Cabinet was the result of bargaining between him, Megawati, representing PDI Perjuangan, House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung representing Golkar, People's Consultative Assembly Speaker Amien Rais of the National Mandate Party (PAN) and Gen. Wiranto representing TNI.

The President represented the National Awakening Party (PKB), which he cofounded.

Each of these figures will act as "guarantors" for the ministers they championed, Abdurrahman said, adding that if the ministers "misbehaved" their guarantors would be held responsible.

Abdurrahman refrained from coining a name for his Cabinet, saying the days of such symbolism had ended. "But the theme of the Cabinet is national unity."

The President denied accusations he was forced to accommodate various political forces in his Cabinet in return for their support in last week's presidential election.

"There is no question of payback. We looked for the best people to run the administration .... This is the best we could come up with."

Admitting that the Cabinet might not please everyone, he said people had no choice but to accept it.

Among the biggest surprises in the new Cabinet is the abolition of the Ministry of Information, which was used, or rather abused, by the Soeharto regime as a propaganda tool.

"You're the ones who wanted independence," Abdurrahman said when a journalist asked about the fate of the ministry, whose responsibilities included "guiding" the national press.

The government will retain a small office to help disseminate information regarding its policies and plans, he said. "The rest is up to the press."

Also abolished was the social services ministry, which was replaced by the office of the state minister of social affairs. The ministries of public works; tourism, arts and culture; and cooperatives also changed status into smaller offices, each under a state minister.

Abdurrahman said employees of ministries which were abolished would be funneled to other ministries or agencies, or given the opportunity to work for regional administrations.

Reflecting his desire to develop Indonesia's maritime sector, the President established the Ministry of Maritime Exploration.

Abdurrahman said he reduced the number of ministers overseeing departments and turned many into state minister offices.

The Cabinet's main task is to lead rather than to execute, he said, adding that the execution could be carried out by nondepartment governmental agencies or the private sector.

The purpose of ministries, except for the ministries of education and law, will be to formulate policies and oversee their implementation, he said, adding that the ministries would not be involved in the technical details of the policies.

Although no date has been set, Abdurrahman said the new Cabinet would be sworn in immediately.

All but one are in the country. Yahya Muhaimin, the minister of national education, is in Washington D.C. and had been asked to return to Indonesia as soon as possible.

"He can be sworn in later," Abdurrahman said.

He said all Cabinet members would have to declare their wealth before taking up their posts. "Let's find out how rich or how poor they are."

The President disclosed a list of Megawati's responsibilities, including dealing with unrest in Irian Jaya, Maluku and Riau, and human rights and environmental matters.

Abdurrahman said he would focus on Aceh and the country's economic recovery.

The President said he would attend Friday prayers in an ordinary mosque once a month, and that he and Megawati would meet with ordinary people twice a month to touch base with the people and listen firsthand to their grievances.

"We want to remain in touch with the people. It would be disastrous if we ever lost touch with them," he said. (prb/emb)