Observers blast timetable set for general election

Observers blast timetable set for general election

JAKARTA (JP): The mid-1998 general election timetable set by President B.J. Habibie is considered not soon enough and will only serve to prolong the country's political and economic suffering, observers said here yesterday.

Former cabinet minister Emil Salim and political observer Daniel Sparringa of Surabaya's Airlangga University said during a seminar here yesterday that the government's decision was "killing the economy".

"The government should hold the general election as soon as possible since this is the only thing which can return business to its normal capacity," Emil told a discussion.

The election should be in six months to nine months from now, he added.

"The government should bypass the procedures and announce to the world that it wants to form a legitimate government as soon as possible."

Daniel argued that uncertainty and questions over President B.J. Habibie's legitimacy would endure until there was a new government elected through a free and fair elections.

Critics say Habibie and most of his Cabinet ministers are considered remnants of the past regime under Soeharto, making investors and the international community reluctant to resume operations and full aid here until a truly legitimate government is formed.

The government confirmed Monday that elections would be held in the middle of next year after the extraordinary session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), to convene in December, sets a poll date.

A legitimate government, Daniel said, would win public and international confidence, crucial components to revive the ailing economy.

The country has been hit by a severe economic crisis since last July following the drastic depreciation of the rupiah, which in turn prompted a near collapse of the already corroded national economy.

Daniel warned that these problem could threaten the country's fledgling democracy.

Separately, chairman of the 30-million-strong Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) Moslem organization, Abdurrahman Wahid, also questioned the timeliness of the government's poll date.

"It can be held a few months earlier," Abdurrahman, who is better known as Gus Dur, told the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Asia-Pacific director Hubert Neiss who visited him at his house in Ciganjur, South Jakarta.

Abdurrahman said the general election should be held within seven months after the ruling Golkar holds its extraordinary Congress next month.

Emil also urged the government to form an independent committee to investigate allegations that last month's riots were organized.

He said the government must not play down the brutality of the riots.

Human rights activists reported that hundreds of Chinese- Indonesian women were sexually abused during the riots, which by some estimates killed more than 1,200 people.

"This must be disclosed although the Armed Forces may be at risk of dissension and bloodshed," senior political scientist Mochtar Pabottingi said without elaborating.

Mochtar, who was a moderator at yesterday's discussion, said that a clear and open explanation was crucial to uphold the truth.

Habibie, while acknowledging the importance of conducting a thorough investigation into the matter, has repeatedly called for public patience to allow the Armed Forces sufficient time to investigate various recent cases and conduct "internal consolidation". (byg/imn)