New team gets cautious welcome

JAKARTA (JP): Observers were cautious over the weekend about the establishment of the National Reconciliation Team -- intended to avert national disintegration -- and suggested that President B.J. Habibie concentrate on immediate problems rather than on such an "outdated" concept.

Habibie's economic advisor, Frans Seda, former cabinet minister H.M. Sanusi and human rights activist Sandyawan Sumardi all suggested that a "more realistic" agenda be adopted, instead.

"It must be clear whether the team's duties are to reconcile different concepts, views and opinions, or to mediate between conflicting parties, or a combination of these two," Frans Seda told The Jakarta Post on Saturday.

He said the team must then decide which parties -- whether non-governmental organizations (NGOs) or other leading figures -- would follow up the programs.

Habibie and the National Commission on Human Rights announced on Friday the establishment of the reconciliation team to head off the rising threat of national disintegration and separatism.

The team -- to be manned by cabinet ministers, human rights activists and other public figures -- is expected to unite all of the nation's forces, encourage people to turn adverse experiences into bitter but valuable lessons for a better future and bridge gaps between conflicting parties in society.

Frans, a former minister of finance, also questioned the nature of the reconciliation team, including its benefits.

"The conflicting parties are just between the opposition groups and the Habibie's administration. In such a situation the term reconciliation is going a little bit too far," he said.

He said the nation's most crucial homework was to create a strong opposition, especially in the House of Representatives (DPR). "Until now opposition has only meant street demonstrations," he noted.

Frans, who turns 72 next month, also supported that former president Soeharto be tried for sins he committed during his 32- year presidency. Former minister of light industries H.M. Sanusi said the general election would be one of the best ways to achieve national reconciliation.

Sanusi, jailed for nine years by Soeharto until 1994 for his antigovernment activities, said the government's most challenging task was to overcome the prolonged economic crisis.

"(Participating in) the general election is our most important duty as it is through this that people will give their mandate to the parties they trust to lead the nation," he said.

Sanusi, 77, however, disagreed with those who have said that the reconciliation team should make Soeharto's trial its top priority, saying that this could be done later by the new government established after next year's general election.

Sandyawan doubted the seriousness of the government's reconciliation program, saying that it was issued while the state was under strong pressure from the international community.

"Why now? Why not when the riots broke out throughout the nation (in May)?" he asked. "There are lots of things the government should have solved but hasn't."

He said he would only welcome the reconciliation team if it really worked for the sake of justice and civil rights.

Dialog

National Resilience Institute Governor Lt. Gen. Agum Gumelar offered a national dialog to gain some consensus from the wide- ranging differences in political perceptions and strategies.

Antara quoted him as saying Saturday the dialog would be an attempt to avoid negative impacts of potential political conflicts during the crisis.

In Jambi, the provincial capital of Jambi province, Golkar chairman Akbar Tandjung said the team was urgently needed to dispel the image that people no longer trusted the government.

"People's aspirations will be accommodated by the (team) which hopefully will get the people's support, so problems can be solved, especially the economic crisis," he said, as quoted by Antara

"Once national reconciliation is achieved, Golkar will correct its past mistakes," said Akbar, who is also minister/state secretary.

Politician Amien Rais said he supported the establishment of the reconciliation team. He suggested the team cover, among others, the nation-state concept, and immediate and concrete actions to settle scarcities and skyrocketing prices of basic commodities. (prb/nur/imn/swe)