Hope for Indonesia

Hope for Indonesia

Indonesian President Megawati Soekarnoputri got high marks,
even from erstwhile critics, on Thursday's state of the nation
address. In the first major speech since assuming the chief
executive's chair on July 23, she struck a statesmanlike chord,
apologizing for human rights abuses by the military and vowing to
tackle official corruption and restore economic health to an
ailing nation. She and her cabinet appointees now have before
them the task of trying to make good on her promises.

Megawati decided to send a message of stability and
moderation. Following her much applauded appointed last week of a
respected team of professional economic advisors and a multi-
partisan cabinet, she reiterated that the nation would make good
on its $140 billion in foreign debt. And while no quarter was
given to independence movements in Aceh and Irian Jaya, the new
president left the door open for increased autonomy in the
trouble-stricken regions.

In an attempt to convince the international community that she
is not interested in refighting old battles, she acknowledged the
independence of East Timor. In the aftermath of inaugural
criticism suggesting she wasn't cut out for the job, Megawati has
succeeded in her first major challenge, which simply was to
demonstrate that she has presidential stature.

But there are still many bumps in the road to peace and
prosperity in the archipelago. Breaking the habit of graft in
government will be easier said than done. Banking reform and
privatization initiatives will meet heavy opposition. Perhaps the
biggest challenge will be reforming the military without losing
its support for civilian rule. Over the weekend, hundreds of
soldiers patrolled the provincial capital of Aceh after a wave of
16 bombings; keeping a lid on this conflict where 1,000 have died
so far this year is a complex undertaking.

So soon after the ego driven implosion of the Wahid
administration -- a government that at first held much promise --
it is best to withhold judgment until there is some concrete
evidence that Megawati' reforms are being implemented and that
they are opening up new opportunities for Indonesians to recover
from the economic destruction visited upon them in 1997. But the
new president is off to a good start and we wish her well.

-- The Asian Wall Street Journal, Hong Kong