Officials' decisions

Officials' decisions

From Merdeka

I would like to comment on some decisions taken by our high- ranking government officials.

There have been many incidents and cases that have disappeared from circulation. Prabowo Subianto's is, in my opinion, a big case and is important as a momentum for Indonesia's reform. Why did Armed Forces Commander Gen. Wiranto only dismiss (honorably?) Lt. Gen. Prabowo Subianto from military service and appoint nonactive Maj. Gen. Muchdi and Col. Chairawan? There is no certainty whether the three officers will be court-martialled. On the other hand their subordinates, also members of the Army's Special Force (Kopassus), will be brought before a military court. It is clear that the subordinates only carried out the orders of their superiors. It is an important question to be answered by the Armed Forces.

Minister of Home Affairs Syarwan Hamid has stated that although there is only one candidate for Yogyakarta governor, Sultan Hamengkubuwono X, the election of the governor for the special region of Yogyakarta is still based on Law No.5 of 1974. The status of the special region of Yogyakarta was abolished following the demise of Sultan Hamengkubuwono IX. It means that the government no longer recognizes Law No. 3 of 1950 that is still in force and which has never been revoked by the House of Representatives. The question is: does the appointment of Sultan Hamengkubuwono X as Yogyakarta governor supersede the status of Yogyakarta as a special region? Yogyakarta residents must question this.

SUHARSONO HADIKUSUMO

Jakarta