Megawati fails to live up to reform hopes: Experts
Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Megawati Sukarnoputri has failed to live up to the spirit of reform, especially as regards upholding the supremacy of law, during her first 100 days in office, tempting the public at large to take the law into their own hands, legal experts say.
"The public no longer trusts our legal system," Harkristuti Harkrisnowo, a criminologist from the University of Indonesia, said at a discussion held here on Tuesday to evaluate Megawati's first 100 days as President.
Harkristuti, who is familiarly known as Tuti, expressed concern over the fact that disillusionment with the present legal system had led the public at large to take the law into their own hands, pointing to the tendency in certain quarters of society to readily set suspected thieves ablaze.
"And what is more worrying is the fact that none of these vigilantes have ever been brought to court for trial," she said.
Tuti, however, did not pin the blame for this on police officers as they received dismally low salaries and inadequate facilities.
Almost immediately after Megawati took over the leadership of the country on July 23, after the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) had impeached and removed Abdurrahman Wahid for incompetence and alleged corruption, she promised to increase salaries for members of the security forces, but a funding crisis has since forced her to back off her plan.
Meanwhile, constitutional expert and former advisor to ex- president Abdurrahman Wahid, Harun Al Rasyid, said that Indonesia did not enforce the supremacy of law but rather that of politics.
The rise of Megawati to the presidency showed that the country was more accommodative of political interests than law enforcement, he said.
Harun emphasized that the transfer of power from Abdurrahman to Megawati on July 23 had no legal basis.
"It clearly shows that the supremacy of politics prevails over the supremacy of law," he added.
Harun, however, suggested that Megawati be allowed to serve out her presidential term until 2004.
Fellow University of Indonesia lecturer Topo Santoso concurred with Harun, saying that Megawati's poor performance in law enforcement was evident in 'discriminatory legal processes' against corrupt bankers.
Touching on the Bank Indonesia Liquidity Support (BLBI) scandal that has caused losses to the state totaling Rp 136 trillion, Topo said all corrupt officials and bankers must be brought to court.
Referring to a recent survey on law enforcement, Topo said 67 percent of respondents believed that law enforcement was non- existent.
"And 80 percent of them said that the eradication of corruption has made no progress," Topo said.
On the economic front, Megawati's performance during the first 100 days has also been criticized as poor.
Chairman of the Indonesian Retail Merchants' Association Kustarjono Prodjolalito said economic progress under Megawati's administration was slow.
"Our economy is at its nadir; it's tough to arise from such a position," he said.
For Megawati to speed up the country's economic recovery, she should take a more micro approach, including eliminating inefficiencies at the economic grassroots level, he explained.
Kustarjono said the government should curb unnecessary spending in local administrations, which could lead to significant savings.
Milestones of the Megawati administration
- Jul.23, inaugurated as President, replacing Abdurrahman Wahid.
- Aug.8, orders police chief Surojo Bimantoro to arrest the fugitive Tommy Soeharto.
- Aug.9, announces 32-member rainbow cabinet lineup.
- Aug.14, appoints M.A. Rachman as Attorney General.
- Aug.16, delivers state-of-the-nation address on corruption eradication and national integrity -- garners praise from experts.
- Aug.21, begins a week-long ASEAN trip.
- Sept.7, unveils a conservative budget.
- Sept.17, heads for U.S. amid U.S. preparations for war against terrorism.
- Oct.5, tells military to quit practical politics.
- Oct.14, says violence must not beget violence, in an apparent message to U.S. that had launched strikes on Afghanistan.
- Oct.17, attends Shanghai APEC Summit.
- Oct.28, gives Youth Pledge Day speech calling for national unity.