Gus Dur's govt fragile: Observers, intellectuals

Gus Dur's govt fragile: Observers, intellectuals

JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid's government and
Cabinet has a lot to do with the absence of opposition parties,
according to political observers and intellectuals.

Nurcholish Madjid, a noted Muslim intellectual, said that
despite its legitimacy, the current government was quite fragile
and this had a lot to do with the personality of Abdurrahman, who
is widely recognized as a reconciliation figure.

"Gus Dur's reconciliation Cabinet is quite fragile and
brittle and this is evident in its overdue response to managing
the religious conflict in Ambon," he said at a seminar on
opposition in Indonesia here on Saturday.

According to Nurcholish, the presence of an opposition is much
needed to help put the President and his administration on track.

"The presence of an opposition is a must. But an opposition is
not meant to be a destructive force aimed at toppling the
government," he said.

He asserted that the presence of an opposition should not be
regarded as taboo, noting that by nature human beings divided
into two groups, male and female, who have a relationship on a
dialectical basis.

"So, the world would be devastated without a balance between
ruling groups and opposing ones," he said, referring to the
balanced power between the United States and Russia.

Nurcholish, also a professor at the Paramadina Islamic
Institute, called on all sides to exercise patience with the way
the President was leading the nation.

"All sides should bear in mind that Abdurrahman, a Muslim
figure we have known as Gus Dur, is the first president elected
democratically. We should give him more time to make adjustments
in leading a pluralistic nation despite his trial-and-error
approach in the policy-making process," he said.

Sarbini Somawinata, former rector of the University of
Indonesia, was more severe in his prescription for the
government's ailments.

He said revolutionary changes, and even a coup, may be needed
to topple the present government because of its failure in
containing the threat of disintegration.

"Gus Dur and his government is in fact unable to manage
conflicts in Aceh, Ambon and other provinces. The conflicts could
trigger a national disaster if they are not managed well. The
current Indonesia needs not a national leadership a la kyai
(Muslim elder) but a strong one that is skilled in managing
conflict," he remarked.

Sarbini, also a member of the Indonesian Socialist Party
(PSI), warned that the nation was on the verge of disintegrating
because regional conflicts, unemployment, poverty and other
economic problems were not well managed.

He said former president Soeharto's sudden resignation in May
1998 was the main factor that caused the multicrises.

"All sociopolitical infrastructure established over many years
after the country's independence has been annihilated," he said.

Eep Syaifulloh, a political observer from the University of
Indonesia, concurred and said an internal opposition within the
administration was needed to give constructive criticism to the
President.

"Internal opposition could be established by political parties
such as the United Development Party (PPP), the National Mandate
Party (PAN) and the Golkar Party," he said.

Eep also said the questionable policies and laggard response
to regional conflict were indications of the government's
fragility.

"Gus Dur's personality seems 'too compromising' but he has the
potential to be authoritarian. He claims he is open to criticism,
but he has never listened to his critics," he said.

Noted historian Ong Hok Ham said the House of Representatives
(DPR) could serve as an opposition in line with its control
function, to ensure a check and balance existed between the
government and the legislative body.

"Of course, the political tradition since former first
president Sukarno's era until now does not preach about the
opposition culture. But an opposition role could be played by the
legislative body," he said. (rms)