Keeping the peace

With the crucial Special Session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) only three days away and, above all, with the memory of the worst riots in decades still fresh in our minds, it is only fair to say that it is natural for the authorities to be in no mood to risk ruining what they see as their "national agenda" toward democratic reform by allowing critics and opponents of the government to disrupt the session.

Furthermore, strong student opposition to the scheduled Special Session of the MPR -- which they distrust for being still filled with supporters of the Soeharto regime -- certainly does not help to calm the nerves of the authorities responsible for ensuring the smooth progress of the Special Session of the nation's highest policy-making body.

Still, one might wonder whether the display of so much military might, as can be observed in the heart of the city at present, is really necessary. Any newly arrived visitor to the Indonesian capital these days can be forgiven for believing he has landed in a city at war.

That the potential for conflict and violent clashes exists is beyond question. As Thursday's mass prayer gathering of tens of thousands of Moslems at the Senayan sports stadium demonstrated, there are quite a number of Indonesians who support the MPR Special Session, whose agenda is centered around setting a date for the general election next year.

On the other hand, the almost-daily demonstrations by thousands of students in Jakarta and elsewhere show that the numbers of those who are opposed to the Special Session, or at least distrust it, are no less considerable. Media reports have mentioned that many of these opposition groups are planning to stage demonstrations -- or even try to occupy the parliament or nearby buildings -- while the MPR is in session deliberating rulings on the next general and presidential elections.

That such a scenario could invite clashes between those who are for and those who are against the MPR Special Session needs no saying. Perhaps a recent comment made by a former student activist, Moh. Jumhur Hidayat, who is now a researcher at a think-tank affiliated to the Association of Indonesian Moslem Intellectuals (ICMI), formerly chaired by President B.J. Habibie, best describes the situation. "The situation now," according to Jumhur, "is different from the one that existed previously, when the people had one common enemy: Soeharto. Now there are those who are against Habibie, but there are also a lot of people who support him."

Interestingly, those who oppose the MPR gathering and are demanding the establishment of a transitional government to replace the present Habibie administration, and those who support the Assembly's Special Session and support Habibie have managed to avoid confrontation thus far. Indeed, calls on both sides have been made to eschew clashes and bloodshed and see to it that the war remains one of words rather than physical blows.

It may not be too far from the truth to say that this is perhaps because, so far, the visible controversy does not really concern the most crucial principle of democratic reform -- which all factions in the reformist camp essentially support -- but rather the method by which this can be most effectively achieved. The pro-MPR, pro-Habibie camp ostensibly believes that the course charted out by the government and the House of Representatives provides the best guarantees for the attainment of their aspirations. Among the opposition, clearly the big factor is their distrust of all that has past associations with Soeharto's corrupt and autocratic New Order regime, including the MPR and Habibie.

This being the case, it would seem that the best, most peaceful, most effective and simplest way to prevent destructiveness and violence during the MPR Special Session is by giving clear indications that the drive toward real democratic reform which the students and intellectuals have spearheaded will not be betrayed.