Minister shares critics' concern on democracy

Minister shares critics' concern on democracy

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Home Affairs Moch. Yogie S.M. shares
government critics' concern over widespread political violence
and repression of democracy in Indonesia.

Yogie said here yesterday he would accept the critics' recent
statement of concern over the mounting political problems as
"constructive input."

"I am also concerned over the increasing political violence
and repression of democracy," Yogie told reporters after
installing the deputy governors of Jambi, East Java, West
Kalimantan and South Sulawesi.

Yogie was referring to a petition signed last week by a group
of prominent intellectuals and government critics expressing
their apprehension over what they viewed as increasing political
violence and repression of democracy.

Among the signatories of the "July 1 Statement" were chairman
of the 30-million strong Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) Abdurrahman Wahid,
former Armed Forces chief of sociopolitical affairs Lt. Gen.
(ret) Bambang Triantoro and former House Speaker Lt. Gen. (ret.)
Kharis Suhud.

Abdurrahman, known as Gus Dur, said Tuesday that he and other
signatories of the petition will distribute over five million
forms to the general public. Those who share the same concerns
over current political developments are being asked to sign the
forms and return them to the group.

Yogie said that the government would welcome the political
statement. "The petition will be good input for the government,"
he said.

Apart from the July 1st Statement, nine non-governmental
organizations issued a similar statement last Friday, warning of
commonplace political violence, social injustice and abuse of
power in the bureaucracy.

The statement was made by leaders of the Indonesian National
Unity organization, New Masyumi, Parkindo, Petisi 50, Forum for
Restoration of People's Sovereignty, Young Indonesia
Organization, Marhaen People's Movement, Forum Perjuangan 1 Juni
1945 and Indonesian Prosperous Labor Union.

They expressed concern in the petition that power holders were
moving away from the ideals established by Indonesia's founding
fathers and from the materialization of popular sovereignty. They
also called for "national dialogs" to review current state
affairs and discuss future strategies.

Yogie, however, criticized the intellectuals and government
critics for only focusing on the negative impact of national
development and ignoring the successes.

"It would be better if the intellectuals and government
critics also mentioned our successful development programs," he
said.

Asked about a request by the Independent Election Monitoring
Committee to cancel the 1997 general election, Yogie said that
the request was baseless.

Attorney General Singgih, who is also chairman of the official
Election Supervision Committee, said on Tuesday that the decision
on the future of the election is in the President's hands.

"The President has the authority on the general election
because he is the one who is responsible for the implementation
of the elections," Singgih said. (imn)