'Kleptocracy' blamed for RI crisis

JAKARTA (JP): Observers identified crony capitalism and kleptocracy as the cause of the deteriorating state of the nation and called on students to continue pushing for reform.

Roeslan Abdulgani, former foreign minister in the second Ali Sastroamidjojo cabinet between 1956 and 1957, said the current economic and political crisis was the climax to a series of past chronic, moral transgressions.

"The current government is implementing kleptocracy, not democracy. The term refers to greedy governance, meaning that a mentality of greed is prevalent among government officials," he said during the book launching of Orde Pancasila: Agenda reformasi paripurna di bidang ekonomi, politik, sosial-budaya dan hukum (Pancasila order: The agenda of total reform in the political, economic, sociocultural and law fields) at the Nasional University here yesterday.

The 83-year-old Roeslan added that the economy was crumbling because it had been developed over 32 years under a climate of crony capitalism involving a small number of tycoons and "government officials' families".

He said that crony capitalism and kleptocracy were two dangerous diseases that had to be eradicated and "now is the time for students to do it".

He said that despite the deaths of several people, students should not lose hope but should continue their struggle.

"The fall of your fellow students should strengthen your moral movement to bring the nation back to the basics as stipulated in the Pancasila state ideology and the 1945 Constitution," he said in reference to the deaths of four Trisakti University students.

Roeslan also slammed the government for abusing the Constitution to maintain the status quo.

"The New Order appeared to make a total correction over alleged abuses committed by the Old Order government. Now, students are taking to the streets to demand the government resign for having abused Pancasila and the Constitution," he said.

Solichin GP, a former secretary for development supervision at the presidential office, and A. Dahlan Ranuwihardjo both urged the government to resign as a prerequisite for total reform.

They said it was impossible for the nation to introduce reform unless the government, having failed to carry out national development, quit.

Solichin and Dahlan, two of Orde Pancasila's coauthors, said the nation needed more than just reform and this was impossible unless the government resigned.

"How can the failed government and system defuse the crisis while the crisis is part of, and a product of, the failed system," said Solichin.

Dahlan said the nation needed total reform so it could be rebuilt and create a civil society that respected human rights, decency and civility.

He also urged religious leaders and communities to join forces to push for total reform. (rms)