Leading reformists no-shows at dialog on disintegration

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)