Leading reformists no-shows at dialog on disintegration

JAKARTA (JP): The trumpeted national dialog to avert disintegration was not as star-studded as promised on Thursday when leading reform figures Amien Rais, Abdurrahman Wahid, Megawati Soekarnoputri and Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X failed to show.

Also absent was Muslim scholar Nurcholish Madjid, who organized the meeting, but politician Siswono Yudohusodo, political scholar Ichlasul Amal and government critic Emil Salim drew about 200 participants to a lively discussion on how the country could prevent a revolution amid growing political tension.

The speakers agreed reform was the best path to achieve democratization in all fields.

Amien, Abdurrahman, Megawati and Sultan were the four signatories to the Ciganjur declaration last November, a document which outlined the reform route they believed the government must follow. Although their individual credibility fluctuates, they are still considered by many as reform leaders.

Emil acknowledged the danger of revolution was real in the current economic and political turmoil, and he appealed to all members of the community to concentrate on salvaging the reform process to head off the threat.

"The key to pursue democratization and to prevent at the same time a revolution is a free and fair poll, in order to create new, legitimate leaders whom the people can accept and trust."

Emil criticized legislators with vested interests in the deliberation of political bills, expected to be completed by Jan. 28.

"They have not been acting as statesmen, they have been emphasizing the interests of their own groups."

He believed the bias exacerbated the situation.

"In order for the reform process to go smoothly, the deliberation of political bills must take the side of the people rather than the establishment."

Emil, a former environment minister in Soeharto's New Order regime, came out in support of several House factions and the government's stance to bar civil servants from involvement in political organizations. He also advocated gradual elimination of the Armed Forces' presence in the legislature.

He suggested that House members be elected at provincial level, and the government should be excluded from the general election committee.

Ichlasul Amal, a political science professor at Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta, said today's freedom of the press proved the reform movement was on track.

But he warned against allowing newfound liberties to descend into chaos, with people believing they could behave recklessly with impunity, because it would set the stage for an autocrat similar to Soeharto to take over.

"Chaos or instability will prompt the emergence of a strongman to seize power again... and it would again lead to the birth of authoritarian status."

Siswono, a transmigration and housing minister under Soeharto, said only adherence to the law could prevent social, economic and political upheaval from careening into disastrous revolution.

He urged the Armed Forces to improve its image, tarnished because of past atrocities, to restore public confidence. (01)