More analysts lash out at Habibie's speech

UJUNGPANDANG, South Sulawesi (JP): A local political observer on Friday criticized the incumbent President B.J. Habibie's accountability speech, saying that what he said in his speech "does not concur with the reality on the ground".

Kautsar Bailusy of Hasanuddin University said that Habibie's speech before the 700 members of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) late on Thursday was "nothing more than a political farce".

"Habibie was trying to cover-up the government's failure in upholding the supremacy of the law," Kautsar said.

Another observer, M. Yusuf Abadi of Haluoleo University in Kendari, South Kalimantan, said despite his shortcomings, Habibie had managed to put the Indonesian economy back on track as indicated by the falling inflation rate.

Habibie, whose credibility has been eroded by the violence in East Timor, the Bank Bali scandal and his foot-dragging investigation into high level corruption, devoted a great deal of his speech to elaborating on what his administration had done to improve the economy, accelerate the democratization process and carry out reforms in other sectors.

However, observers said that Habibie failed to admit his shortcomings during his 17-month tenure.

"What he said was only his successes, while the situation on the ground is completely different," Kautsar said.

He also said that in regard to his pledge to combat corruption, collusion and nepotism, the longtime protege of Soeharto had failed to confirm his seriousness.

"Habibie failed morally because he decided to drop the corruption investigation into former president Soeharto and (his youngest son) Tommy Soeharto," Kautsar said.

The government dropped the investigation against Soeharto, and on Thursday the South Jakarta district court acquitted Tommy of graft charges due to lack of evidence.

Yusuf said people on the ground could not directly benefit from the economic successes of the Habibie administration, because the economic recovery program had started from zero.

"I can't say President Habibie should be reelected, but what he did in his 512 days in office helped Indonesia surge back," he said as quoted by Antara.

Yusuf called on Assembly members to be fair and to use their consciences in judging Habibie's performance. "Personal and group interests should be avoided, otherwise national interests will be sacrificed," he said, without elaborating. (byg)