National dialog

National dialog

From Gatra

Toward Soeharto's fall, Minister of Defense and Security/Armed Forces Commander Gen. Wiranto held a "national dialog" in Kemayoran, Jakarta. This dialog was attended by representatives of students' senates from all over Indonesia, community figures, intellectuals, generals and retired members of the Armed Forces as well as 18 Cabinet ministers. Unfortunately, proreform figures such as Amien Rais, Abdurrahman Wahid, Megawati and Goenawan Mohamad were not invited to attend the dialog, which did not come up with anything of significance. The dialog deteriorated into a vicious circle of debates and mutual condemnation. Finally the reform engine moved on until Soeharto's collapse.

Now, Lt. Gen. Agum Gumelar of the National Resilience Institute would like to hold another national dialog next month. He has invited all community representatives, including the Ciganjur Group. This is a breakthrough to break the ice in our political affairs.

As one of the participants in the national dialog in Kemayoran, I would like to remind Mr. Agum Gumelar, the government and the Armed Forces to make sure that the upcoming dialog will really be made use of to reach a national consensus before we fall into the abyss of protracted crises and witness the resilience of this country destroyed for good.

President Habibie and the Armed Forces must abandon the New Order-style approach of violence and adopt a friendlier political approach. To this end, I would like to suggest a few things:

* Immediately undertake probing into and confiscation of the assets illegally amassed by Soeharto, his family and his cronies;

* Reshuffle the Cabinet and discard officials incapable of performing their duties.

* Establish the laws on political affairs and the general election through deliberations with new political parties.

* Cancel the allegation of treason placed on the National Front, which is part of the proreform circle, to prevent national disintegration.

It is my hope that our nation and country may escape disintegration as a result of failing to cash in on a political momentum through deliberations as God recommends in His decree (Koran epistle 3, verse 159): "And hold deliberations with them in all matters. If then you make a decision, have trust in God. Indeed, God loves people who have trust in Him."

H. SALEH ALDJUFRI

Chairman of LPPI Sunan Ampel

Surabaya