New economics advisers appointed

New economics advisers appointed

JAKARTA (JP): The government has appointed four economists as
advisers on various economic issues, Finance Minister Rizal Ramli
said on Thursday.

Rizal said that the four included Irsan Tanjung and Wahyudi
Prakarsa, both senior economists from the University of
Indonesia.

He told reporters that the other two were from Gadjah Mada
University and the Bogor Institute of Agriculture. However, he
did not reveal their names.

It is not clear, however, whether the move will oust Widjojo
Nitisastro, Frans Seda and Emil Salim from their current advisory
roles.

The three are the country's most senior economists, and were
considered to be the economic architects of the previous Soeharto
regime.

When asked whether the four newly appointed economic advisers
would replace their more senior counterparts, Rizal only replied:
"Times have changed. There are new challenges, and we need fresh
ideas."

Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri often invited the three
senior economists to give her their comments. They were also
invited to attend some Cabinet meetings chaired by Megawati.

"The three economists convinced the Vice President about the
dangers of adopting a confrontational approach toward the
International Monetary Fund," a vice presidential adviser told
The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.

According to the adviser, who asked not to be named, Rizal was
unhappy with her decision.(rei/prb)