Habibie-Wiranto scenario?
I have read in a newspaper that the Functional Group (Golkar) Party, at Habibie's request, will make a decision to nominate Habibie and Gen. Wiranto as president and vice president in the 1999 General Session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR). In fact, Abdurrahman Wahid, better known as Gus Dur, and Amien Rais have asked Habibie not to run in the presidential race but, according to Habibie, everything is left to the General Session.
In my opinion, these two people, Habibie and Wiranto, are examples of unsuccessful figures in Indonesia. It is obvious that there are many mistakes on the part of Habibie. He, for example, cannot execute the MPR's stipulation on the eradication of corruption, collusion and nepotism, including taking former president Soeharto to court. He is also allegedly involved in the Bank Bali scandal and protects those involved in this scandal. And his biggest mistake in the eyes of the people is the government's failure in the direct ballot on the future status of East Timor, as the result has been disastrous to the Indonesian people.
The same holds true of Wiranto in his capacity as commander-in-chief of the Indonesian Military (TNI) and minister of security and defense. He has been very unsuccessful in maintaining and guaranteeing security in Indonesia and also in solving security problems in this country. Bloody incidents from May 12, 1999, and May 14, 1998, up to the second Semanggi tragedy all bear witness to Wiranto's great failure. In this respect, consider also the violence, murder and massacre committed by TNI/police apparatuses and also by rioters almost everywhere across Indonesia. As a result, people at large have to suffer.
In the meantime, the economic condition is still bad as there are no foreign investors who would like to invest in Indonesia. Indonesians of Chinese origin and Soeharto's cronies have, reportedly, taken abroad as much as US$80 billion. Then, the unemployment rate is very high, involving millions of people. In short, economic and social disasters have taken place in Indonesia.
As an Indonesian citizen, I don't understand why Golkar still wants to maintain the nomination of Habibie-Wiranto as the two state officials representing Habibie's Cabinet, which is obviously not popular among the people. If with all political orchestration Habibie and Wiranto can be elected president and vice president, certainly the new Cabinet/administration in Indonesia will not be stable. They may continue to be shaken up by the majority of Indonesians. The result, instead, will be the disintegration of the unitary state of the Republic of Indonesia. Habibie and Wiranto will give rise to the New Order administration Vol. 3, which will give prominence to the element of militarism in Indonesia, but which will fail to win the support of the international community. The Indonesian people would like to see the election of a new president and vice president and the establishment of a new Cabinet/administration in Indonesia, which will not only act democratically and honestly, but will also be capable of reestablishing the economic and social welfare for the entire people. All MPR members must, therefore, be fully aware of the need to reestablish economic and social welfare for the people.
SUHARSONO HADIKUSUMO
Jakarta