Megawati told to take bold action to cleanse bureaucracy

Megawati told to take bold action to cleanse bureaucracy

Bambang Nurbianto and Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Legislators, non-governmental organization activists and students
urged President Megawati Soekarnoputri to get serious with her
words and deeds in order to cleanse the bureaucracy and other
institutions from New Order groups and individuals who are the
enemies of the reformation movement.

The reform process, particularly in the area of law
enforcement and fighting against corruption, collusion and
nepotism would not take place smoothly as the bureaucracy and
state institutions are still controlled by elements of the New
Order regime, they argued.

The New Order is associated with the massive corruption and
widespread oppression during the 32-year Soeharto administration
which finally ended in 1998.

Speaking during a year-end event organized by the University
of Indonesia's Student Executive Council (BEM UI) in Jakarta on
Monday, Judil Herry Justam of the New Order Surveillance
Committee said that cooperation among pro-reform elements is
required to eliminate the forces of the New Order regime from key
positions in all three branches of government as well as in other
state institutions.

Other speakers included Pramono Anung of the Indonesian
Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), Ali Masykur Musa
of the National Awakening Party (PKB), Samuel Koto of the
National Mandate Party (PAN), M.S. Kaban of the Crescent Star
Party (PBB), and BEM UI Chairman Wisnu Sunandar.

All the speakers pressed Megawati's administration to cut the
alliances with the Golkar Party -- widely believed to be the
epitome of the New Order -- arguing that such cooperation has
hampered the government from doing anything noteworthy against
corrupt figures from the New Order.

Judil said that research conducted by his organization showed
that 30 percent of House of Representatives members and 54
percent of Cabinet members have close links with the Soeharto-New
Order regime, which the reformasi movement fought to bring down
just a few years ago.

"There should be a joint movement to get rid of the New Order
elements, at least in the executive branch because the reform
process will never be carried out smoothly if New Order people
remain in key roles within the government," said Judil, calling
for a coalition of PDI Perjuangan, PAN, PKB and the Justice Party
to expel Golkar from the government.

"If they form a strong coalition, government policies can be
implemented well without participation of politicians from
Golkar," he added.

Pramono Anung from PDI Perjuangan, meanwhile, said
bureaucratic revolution was needed because New Order leaders, who
still have a firm grip on power, hamper government efforts to
introduce reforms.

"As stated by President Megawati that she could only control
her Cabinet ministers while officials of echelon I and II are not
under her control," Pramono said.

Another speaker, Samuel Koto of PAN, said President Megawati
does have the power to take drastic actions to terminate the role
of the New Order in key government positions.

"Megawati could start by replacing all echelon I and echelon
II officials who are still the backbones of the New Order,"
Samuel said.

Ali Masykur Musa of PKB said all reform elements should
support his party's desire to set up a Special House Committee to
investigate Golkar Chairman Akbar Tandjung's alleged involvement
in corruption worth Rp 40 billion, which according to him could
serve as a catalyst to permanently end New Order influence in the
government.

"I agree that all reform agendas like law enforcement and
fighting against corruption, collusion and nepotism could proceed
smoothly if only we can eliminate the New Order elements from
their key positions," he added.

Contacted separately, Golkar legislator Burhan Djabir Magenda
claimed that his party had scrapped its authoritarian old-style
image and adopted a new outlook to fit the demands for reform.

"We do not maintain the status quo. We just want to be
realistic by paying attention to our complicated problems,"
Burhan told The Jakarta Post by phone.

Commenting on the snail-paced eradication of corruption,
Burhan said all processes of law would take time because it was
necessary to gather accurate evidence.

"I think the reform agenda has been performing very well and
the people at large have been satisfied," said Burhan.