Implement democratic measures

The new President lacks Soeharto's charisma and does not exercise control over Indonesia's Armed Forces. If he does not implement measures to wipe out corruption, antigovernment forces will vent their wrath on him.

President Habibie should set up his reform council and implement the democratic measures that Soeharto had promised prior to his resignation. The passage of an anticorruption law will change the way that foreign trading companies and financial institutions, which had helped to prop up Soeharto's dictatorship, conduct business in Indonesia. Though criticism will be directed at the commercial practices of Japanese and other foreign corporations which fostered close ties with the Indonesian elite, the opportunity to eliminate bribery and corruption in Indonesia should be welcomed.

But Habibie must not forget that the Indonesian military was the pillar which propped up Soeharto's developmental dictatorship. If his administration fails to restore stability, the Armed Forces could intervene to set up a military regime. Habibie must proceed with political reform and draw the curtains on the age of dictatorships to promote economic development.

-- Mainichi Shimbun, Tokyo