Habibie-Wiranto scenario?

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