Internal ordeal

Internal ordeal

From Rakyat Merdeka

Though only a few weeks old, the Cabinet of Abdurrahman Wahid
(Gus Dur), which is the result of a compromise among people's
representatives in the House of Representatives and which vows to
uphold honesty and justice, is now encountering a very serious
internal ordeal. Why? Apart from the protracted crisis, problems
have continued to crop up. It seems endless. Nevertheless, the
latest immediate urgency is the settlement of problems related to
corruption, collusion and nepotism (KKN) and those connected with
injustice because they are the sources of all the calamities
befalling the country.

Cases related to KKN must be uncovered. Take for example the
allegation that three Cabinet members have been implicated in
those vices; culprits who brought about all the miseries to the
people. The three ministers allegedly involved in KKN cannot be
defended and allowed to remain in the Cabinet because they may
contaminate the whole nation.

The people are no longer patient. They want immediate and
thorough settlement of problems that brought about the near-
collapse of the nation. In the present era of openness, the
people are waiting for the disclosure of the names of those
implicated in KKN. Do not polemicize this matter. In the present
era of reform, the people demand transparency.

Covering up instances of KKN will only create an atmosphere
inconducive to economic recovery. Law enforcement agencies and
the attorney general will be involved in the probes into cases of
KKN and they must be always honest and fair. Although a
preliminary probe cannot come up with any evidence, it must be
openly announced that all the charges are correct.

The people lost their trust in the government a long time ago.
The present Cabinet has the task of restoring people's confidence
in the government. If a minister is implicated in KKN, Gus Dur
should not hesitate to use his right to fire him.

Of course, great care must be taken in firing officials
allegedly involved in KKN. However, once the government is free
from personnel involved in KKN, people will again have confidence
in their government.

HERLINA

Jakarta