New Order regime may make comeback: Analysts

New Order regime may make comeback: Analysts

JAKARTA (JP): Political observers are warning of a
resurrection of the New Order regime, saying it retains the
political and economic clout to harness power in the coming
special session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) and
the general election.

Speaking at a seminar on civil society here yesterday, Muchtar
Pabottingi of the Indonesian Institute of Sciences and Fachry
Ali, director of the Institute for Study and Advancement of
Business Ethics, said the 32-year Soeharto regime still wielded
power within the political apparatus.

"All current legislators and MPR members are products of
former president Soeharto's regime. His men are still present in
the transition government and they still have money to win the
next general election," Muchtar said.

He warned it would not be impossible for the House of
Representatives (DPR) and MPR to return the New Order regime to
power as nearly 90 percent of them, either directly or
indirectly, "were appointed" by Soeharto.

Fachry pointed out that among the established political
parties, only the ruling Golkar had the financial resources to
fund massive campaigns and possibly "buy votes" in the polls
scheduled for May.

"Other parties, including the United Development Party,
Indonesian Democratic Party and newly established parties don't
have enough money to do that."

Muchtar contended that Golkar should be barred from the
election due to its past manipulative and undemocratic practices.

"What is the difference between Golkar and the banned PKI
(Indonesian Communist Party)?" he said, arguing that Golkar did
its utmost to stifle opposition through whatever means.

Fragile

Muchtar and Fachry also warned the nation was nearing a
greater threat of disintegration since the government, considered
the thread which binds the fabric of society, had lost the
public's confidence.

They believed the society was becoming increasingly sectarian.

"The nation is quite fragile and prone to disintegration with
the appearance of numerous opportunist groups which want to take
advantage of the reform movement, while on the other hand the
government has done nothing to meet demands for total reform,"
Muchtar said. He noted that several days a group claiming to
represent people of Padang, West Sumatra, wanted to declare an
independent state for the Minangkabau ethnic group.

He argued the government had lost its clout since it had
failed to uphold legal supremacy and end the economic and
political crisis.

Fachry said that besides Aceh, Irian Jaya and East Timor, many
other provinces wished to separate from Indonesia following the
collapse of Soeharto's regime.

"It is fortunate that the current president is not a
Javanese," he said, noting that Habibie -- born in Parepare,
South Sulawesi -- is often viewed as representing non-Javanese
people. (rms)