One year later: Better or worse?

One year later: Better or worse?

JAKARTA (JP): A few minutes after 9 a.m. on May 21, 1998,
president Soeharto took the nation, and the world for that
matter, by surprise by announcing his resignation, after 32 years
at the helm. His decision spared the nation from a potentially
ugly and violent confrontation between Soeharto and the student-
led "people's power" reform movement.

One year later, the nation is still engulfed in a crisis,
partly the legacy of Soeharto's authoritarian rule, but partly,
some might argue, the result of policies pursued by his
successor, President B.J. Habibie.

For better or worse, May 21 is regarded as the start of the
reform era in Indonesia. Some people might argue that Habibie has
put Indonesia on the reform path. But many of those who took part
in the anti-Soeharto protests say the struggle for reform is not
over, by far, and that Habibie is not the right person to lead
the reform movement.

Everyone agreed however that the event on that fateful day in
May last year was a major turning point in Indonesia's history.
To mark the first anniversary of the event, The Jakarta Post
asked dozens of people from different walks of life to reflect on
the past year. We asked them whether they think their lives have
become better or worse, what they think of Soeharto, of their
hopes and expectations and their comments on the recent
controversial Time magazine report about Soeharto's wealth.

H.S Dillon, agriculture analyst and member of the National
Commission on Human Rights:

Things have become worst since Soeharto's resignation. There
has been a deformation, instead of a reformation. We haven't
started the reforms yet, and everything has been breaking down,
except for the freedom of the press and the new general election.

All the other things are much worse, because there is even
less predictability. In Soeharto's era, everybody sort of knew
whom to pay, how much to pay -- that was the way corruption
worked. But now, because all the officials are trying to get as
much money as possible in the short time left for them, this is
even more unpredictable.

So on top of the breakdown in law and order, there is almost
no new investment. What is being regarded or presented as new
investment is just the wealthy coming in to buy underpriced
stocks at the stock exchange.

Habibie is out of touch with the nation. He does not
understand who the Indonesian people are and what they want. He
seems to be driven by an agenda set by the people around him, who
appear to be using him to make their own gains.

Habibie has succeeded in the area of trying to deliver a
fairer general election, at least the constitutional foundation
had been set. But he has not succeeded at all in protecting human
rights; under his rule it appears that executions by the army
continue unabated. And it is under his rule, more than any other
factor, that the country appears to be disintegrating.

We need a leader who can live as a solidarity-maker, who can
heal all wounds. Habibie has added to the wounds. He is worse
than Soeharto, because under Soeharto our nation was together. He
is not able to address the core issues.

From all his appearances, especially from the controversial
telephone discussion in which we heard him say he did not want to
turn against his own mentor, Habibie is not serious enough in
moving against Soeharto.

Regarding the Time report, I do believe that there are a lot
of truths in it. The country should immediately investigate all
of the people involved here, as stated in the report.

All of Soeharto's children and their cukongs (cronies) should
be brought to trial. That includes the people who became calo
(middlemen) for his children. These are the people who told the
children to make money for this project, for that project. These
are the people who went to the various ministries and told
officials the projects were demanded by (Soeharto's) children.
The government should begin with them, because if they begin with
the children there are political considerations. They should
begin with those people who were instrumental in delivering
projects to the children, and then used (the children's) names to
obtain projects from various ministries by threatening the
officials.

I do not think that an old guy like Soeharto is able to play a
major role any longer. He belonged to the past. And this election
will serve to demonstrate that -- when Golkar gets trashed. And I
am sure the Army will no longer try to support him when there are
new army leaders.

Dian Nitami, a TV artist, presenter:

I don't really care about the government. I don't know
anything. What's important for me is that I still have my job.

As for the entertainment world, I think now there is more
freedom to express ideas. Ideas which could not be told in the
past, can now be exposed. This is good for scriptwriters and
producers.

For an actress, things are more or less the same. The
producers are driven not so much by idealism as commerce.

I also have idealism. I just want to walk on a straight line.
What is clear is the situation is like this: the rupiah is weak,
prices of all goods are skyrocketing and the crime rate is
increasing. I am afraid of driving a car by myself.

I heard about Time's report on Soeharto's wealth. Maybe he is
really rich. Is it wrong to have a lot of money? I don't know
whether it is a result of corruption. I don't want to play the
judge.

But look what is happening now -- the social safety net funds
are not reaching the intended targets. I mean, if we want to
fight corruption, we have to combat the whole of it. But I don't
know. I don't understand politics and I don't want to think about
it. Let the members of the DPR (House of Representatives) and MPR
(People's Consultative Assembly) take care of it. I just want to
work. I don't like reading newspapers. I read tabloids, not the
political ones, but entertainment ones like Citra and Bintang.

Sisy, a mother of three and an elementary school teacher in
Cimanggis, Bogor:

In terms of basic foodstuffs prices and public safety,
Soeharto was better. But we were afraid of speaking freely. (I
was even afraid) to question my own rights as a civil servant,
such as asking why the monthly rice distribution for government
employees was always of the lowest quality and why teachers'
salaries were cut for various obligatory donations.

Habibie is worse in social welfare matters. But I think the
worst record of Habibie's administration is its failure to bring
Soeharto to trial.

If the government could force Soeharto to give back the Rp 120
trillion of wealth he is said to have by Time magazine, we should
forgive him, for humanitarian reasons. He is too old to go to
jail.

A. Safiun, chairman of the Association of Indonesian
Automotive Parts and Components Industries:

There are signs the economic crisis is bottoming out. But this
should not be attributed to Habibie's works.

Habibie has not been able to keep his promises to reform the
country's economic and political life. This is no surprise,
because Habibie is the hand-picked successor of Soeharto.

Habibie's administration is not serious in fighting
corruption. The performance of the Attorney General is very poor.
None of the corruptors have been punished.

I think Soeharto and his cronies are still playing a
significant political role behind the scenes. The status quo
forces are still in control.

I think the Time report is not quite correct. Soeharto and his
family must have amassed much more than US$15 billion. Just look
at Bambang Trihatmodjo, who was reported by the local press to
have owed some Rp 50 trillion to the state banks.

I don't think the current government can do anything about
Soeharto's corruption in the past. It must be done by a newly
elected government.

Dewi Widiyanti, PR Manager of Jakarta Hilton International
Hotel:

Personally, I'm happy to see democracy growing in this
country, though it seems to be uncertain about where we are going
to.

I can't say that Habibie is good or bad. Basically, somehow,
there's nothing bad about him. I mean who can actually do it
(govern the nation) well at this time? I really don't know
whether he's really moving out of Soeharto's shadow or still
Soeharto's puppet. But he has made some changes.

I am not saying that I support Habibie. But, at least, you
have to have empathy for him.

About the pace of reform, I think it's quite tolerable that it
should take some time, because it's the first time we can really
enjoy democracy here. Everything is new for us.

I don't know much about Soeharto's wealth as reported in Time
magazine. But something has to be done in regard to the
investigation of Soeharto's alleged wealth. We have other more
important problems to think about, like poverty alleviation. I'm
not saying that it (Soeharto's case) can be forgotten. We can't,
because it's part of our history. But the most important thing is
that we have to move on.

What to do with the money? If the money exists, it should be
returned to the place or people it belonged to.

Is Habibie serious in handling the case? I don't know.

J. Budianto Ceng, 28, an accountant at Adira Mobil car
showroom in Pasar Minggu, South Jakarta:

Things are better now. Public service, for example, has
improved.

In my company, employers are showing greater concern for the
employees' wellbeing. Maybe they are a little scared because
employees are more daring. It's the reform (era), you know.

The business atmosphere has also improved. Those businesses
which never practiced KKN (the local acronym for corruption,
collusion and nepotism) have no problem. Those which practiced
KKN are in trouble.

Habibie has performed well, although he seems to have no
focus. He shows no serious efforts in eradicating KKN. He has not
prosecuted Soeharto. But then, he's still Soeharto's crony.

I am not content with Habibie's performance, although I can
already see a ray of hope ahead.

I am quite sure Soeharto still plays politics behind the
scenes. That's natural. At least he is doing it to protect his
family and wealth.

I believe in Time (magazine's) revelation. I am sure Soeharto
is corrupt, but it's hard to prove, as it is difficult to prove
how much wealth he has.

If we could retrieve Soeharto's wealth, the government should
use it to help the poor. It's the people's money.

I place my hope in the next government to investigate
Soeharto, prosecute and punish him. We don't have to throw him in
jail. We have to seize his wealth and redistribute it to the
needy.

Vici Henry Linardo, 28, a government employee:

Things have not really changed in my office over the past
year. But people are braver in expressing thoughts. That's the
good part. On the downside, there is a tendency for people to
become more violent. I guess this is the consequence of an abrupt
change in power. It's the price that we must pay. All things
considered, the bottom line is things are better.

Of course Habibie is too slow in responding to people's
demands. He is still Soeharto's crony. Everything he does, is not
necessarily for the sake of the nation, but his own. Habibie's
still under Soeharto's shadow.

Whether Soeharto still reigns, I want to see it this way.

The pace of reform is not too bad. We just need to get through
it all, and this includes the general election.

On Time's report, I believe Soeharto is corrupt. But, since
the allegations come from abroad, I am just a bit skeptical that
there might be a hidden agenda.

But if we could prove all that wealth exists, then we should
confiscate it, and decide later what to do with it.

I don't think Habibie is serious in investigating Soeharto.

The next government must bring Soeharto to court and give him
a trial, like they did in South Korea, a real trial ... nail all
the big fish. A trial would also send a clear signal that we
respect the supremacy of the law.

Hendri Hamzah, 29, an ethnic Chinese and research manager at
the International Communication Associates:

From the Chinese-Indonesian perspective, things have changed,
such as the way the "indigenous" treat "nonindigenous" and vice
versa. Chinese-Indonesians now feel they are more Indonesian than
Chinese, something that I never felt before.

Many Chinese have become socially and politically aware of
their existence and have joined political parties,

The indigenous people are also treating Chinese-Indonesians as
real a part of the nation. Last year, we could not talk about
this issue because there was no opportunity to speak out.

Many have credited the Habibie government for allowing press
freedom and the establishment of many political parties. But I
would not credit this government with anything. This freedom was
achieved through a struggle by students, people, the civil
society movement.

Habibie has done nothing. He can't even investigate Soeharto.
He just doesn't have the guts.

With the money he is reported to have amassed, I can't see
Soeharto out of the political picture. He still has so much
clout. If the reform movement cannot severe his influence, he
might stage a comeback through his children.

I believe Soeharto was corrupt, but it's too difficult to
prove it in court. We could condemn him politically, force him to
admit his guilt, and then and we could forgive him.

I place no hope in the present government. We've given it the
opportunity and it has failed us.

The next government should try Soeharto as a warning to future
rulers not to repeat his mistakes.

Agung Supriyo, 23, a political student at the University of
Indonesia, Jakarta:

On democracy, Habibie's achievements include press freedom and
new political parties. On the economy, his record is awful.

I am not satisfied with the pace of reform. Megawati
Soekarnoputri, Abdurrahman Wahid and Amien Rais should have
gotten together a long time ago to face off the status quo forces
of Golkar and Habibie.

I believe Soeharto is still influential.

We should condemn him politically for all the things he did to
people during his reign. The legal channel is too complex.

I believe Time's report, but I don't think the present
government has the courage to investigate Soeharto.

Personally, I think Soeharto should be hanged. Political
parties contesting the elections should make it their platform to
prosecute Soeharto if they get elected. We should we try him,
convict him, seize his wealth, and afterward forgive him to start
the process of national reconciliation.

Christina Rini Yuliarti, a lawyer at the Jakarta Legal Aid
Institute:

The biggest change since the resignation of Soeharto is that
people have become more outspoken. They are more mature.

But the government is not all that different. President B.J.
Habibie has simply followed the pattern of Soeharto's New Order
policies. The reform movement is not finished.

Soeharto's wealth should be confiscated and returned to the
state. It should be used to promote people's welfare.

Salam, a meatball soup trader in Pancoran, East Jakarta:

I haven't see any significant change over the past year. Riots
are still occurring in many areas of the country.

Habibie has changed nothing. He simply continued with old
policies.

I hope the elections will bring about changes for the better.
My only wish is for the situation to be safe for me to work. I
don't care who becomes the next president.

Soeharto's wealth, if ever traced, could be donated to the
poor in the rural areas. It could also be used to finance
students to continue their studies.

Cipuk, a fourth-semester medical student at the University of
Indonesia:

I give 40 (out of 100) to Habibie's administration.

On crucial issues, including the military's role in politics
and the supremacy of law, we have not accomplished much.

We will mark the first anniversary by introducing a "Soeharto
Award" and holding a massive rally with around 50,000 students
from Java tomorrow (Friday) at our Salemba campus.

Petrus Bala Pattyona, lawyer:

My personal life has not really been affected. The biggest
change is that now I rarely see his (Soeharto's) face on TV.
Before, we used to see him every night.

I give Habibie six (out of 10) for his performance.

Many crimes have gone unresolved and unpunished during his
term. He is even using the law to catch his political
adversaries, including businessman Arifin Panigoro. Pak Harto
would have been more subtle in dealing with adversaries.

In managing the economy, Habibie can't match Soeharto. If
success is measured by the price of rice, then the poor people
have suffered tremendously under Habibie. Soeharto would never
let his people starve just because they couldn't buy rice.

On human rights, however, Habibie is superior. But this may be
because people are now talking freely about their oppression.

I believe the Time report because it is a reputable and
credible magazine. But some of the facts should be checked. This
is a slap in the face for the government because it can't event
come up with evidence that Time reporters obtained. The
government should use the Time report as material to proceed with
its own investigation.

Hotman Paris Hutapea, a litigation lawyer:

In business, there has been one meaningful change over the
past year: the establishment of a commercial court.

But even this change did not really come from Habibie's
political will. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) should take
credit for this.

The Time magazine report poses a challenge to the Attorney
General's Office. But the timing of the release was bad. Nothing
will come of this report because the government is too busy with
preparing the elections. Besides, since Soeharto still has strong
clout, I doubt Habibie will want to take that kind of risk.

I don't really want to waste my energy criticizing this
government. I'll save my comments for the next elected
government.

Zumrotin K. Susilo, a legislative candidate of the National
Mandate Party (PAN):

Soeharto's legacy remains with us, and Indonesia continues to
have one of the world's poorest records in corruption and human
rights violations.

President Habibie has repeatedly promised to eradicate
corruption, collusion and nepotism, but it seems that every time
someone comes up with evidence against Soeharto and his cronies,
Habibie gets his people to go after the messenger.

This happened to Amien Rais (PAN chairman) when he presented
evidence of corrupt practices in the banking sector. The same
thing is now happening to Time magazine reporters.

Attorney General Andi Ghalib should thank these people for
providing him with a new lead for his own investigation.

Rizaldi, 35, unemployed from Medan:

It used to be easier for people to find jobs. But now few
people are investing because of the business climate, and that
means there are fewer job vacancies around.

We have also seen so many riots over the past year and Habibie
seems helpless in preventing or solving them. Soeharto was much
better in solving such cases. I hope the elections will produce a
credible government which can end this political instability.

Tarmidzi, 24, a student at State Islamic Institute (IAIN)
Arraniry in Aceh and a human rights activist:

We are freer now in expressing our thoughts. You could not
have spoken publicly against the government during the Soeharto
era. You would have been abducted.

Habibie has failed to resolve the Aceh problem. Human rights
violations by the military are continuing there and there is
nothing he can do.

The matter of Soeharto's wealth is not as important as the
matter of the atrocities in Aceh. He is responsible for the
killings that took place in Aceh and other regions.

Tatang Acip, 64, a staffer at Jakarta's Cipto Mangunkusumo
General Hospital's morgue:

"I don't care who is the president. It won't effect my life.
Habibie and Soeharto are all the same. The most important for me
is that I can work in peace.

Eep Saefulloh Fatah, political scientist at the University of
Indonesia:

Life would be harder with or without Soeharto.

Soeharto is not an important variable. Indonesia has piles of
problem in all aspects, ranging from economic, social, cultural
to political matters.

Habibie is trying hard, unsuccessfully, to distant himself
from Soeharto. Soehartoists, for example, teach that politics can
only be handled by a small group of elites. People simply have to
put their faith in this group. This is wrong. Politics is for the
masses. I think Habibie is still trapped in that mold.

I believe we would be in a bigger mess if Soeharto was still
in charge today. He wouldn't allow us this much freedom.

Soeharto can catch his breath, at least for now, because I
don't think Habibie will bring him to trial. He has strong
emotional ties to Soeharto.

If the non-status quo forces win the elections, we may have a
better chance at resolving the Soeharto matter. At least a
political solution must be reached.

Sastro L. Ngatawi, musician, a Nahdlatul Ulama activist:

Life is so much better without Soeharto. We would not have
this much freedom if he was still running the country. Habibie
brought in lots of changes, including freedom of the press and
political freedom.

But people are not ready for too much freedom. We have many
new political parties and political figures are also joining in
the fray. Everybody wants to be in the front. Nobody wants to
play second fiddle, or sit in the back row. Megawati, Amien Rais
and even Gus Dur are part of this game.

I don't care who will be the next president, as long as he or
she can ensure a better and more democratic political system.

For me, as long as I can play music and write a book and am
free to speak my mind, things will be fine.

Habibie is standing at a crossroad now. On the one hand, there
is growing public pressure for him to carry out reform, on the
other, he can not offend Soeharto. His heart goes to Soeharto,
but he is pushed to the corner by the public.

Veldy Verdiansyah, a student leader:

To be honest, I kind of miss Soeharto. He used to be
everywhere. His voice, his face, his pictures. Now the only thing
left is the Rp 50,000 bill with his smiling face.

Few things have changed over the past year, but life has
largely remained the same. Food prices are still high and people
are still suffering from the economic crisis. Most students don't
think that Habibie can solve the piles of problems this country
has.

Soeharto was a superman because he was so powerful. Now we
don't have such a figure. But that does not mean that if Soeharto
was still in charge, things would be better.

First and foremost for Indonesia is to have honest and just
elections. And then we can talk about what action to pursue. At
the moment, it is useless to wish that Habibie will bring
Soeharto to trial. It can only be done by the new government.

Edy, a student of the School of Communications of Dr. Soetomo
University, Surabaya:

I think the reform is only on the surface. We have only had a
change in national leadership. We haven't really changed the
system of government, something that we fought for during the
protests last year. We have freedom of speech now, but only as
far as it goes. We have not seen any real political changes.

I am optimistic about the elections. I hope after the
elections there will be a coalition of proreform leaders.

Choirul Anan, an office worker in Surabaya:

I'm hopeful that the economy will get better. This is not the
best moment for our country, but then we are in a transitional
period. We should look on the positive side. We have freedom of
speech and more political freedom than before.

Hotman Siahaan, staff lecturer at Airlangga University,
Surabaya:

We have freedom of expression now, but that alone is not
enough. We still don't have the spirit of democracy. People still
cannot accept political pluralism.

I am not optimistic about the economy. We are still dependent
on foreign aid, while foreigners are waiting for us to show our
seriousness in building a democratic country.

Tadjudin Noor Said, a former legislator:

What has Habibie? Many people accredited him for press freedom
and democracy. But do these things reflect his political stance?
Does he believe in press freedom? I don't think so. I think
Habibie had no alternative but to give press freedom and
democracy because of internal and external pressures. How could a
man like him love press freedom if he had a role in the
government move to close down Tempo magazine (in 1994)?

And what has Habibie done about the allegations of corruption
against Soeharto, his family and cronies? Give me the names of
officials brought to trial by Habibie?

Habibie has four months to do the jobs mandated of him by the
People's Consultative Assembly.
(emf/aan/jun/bsr/udi/ylt/asa/edt/26/sim/gis/kod/rei/cst/jsk/rms)