Our political agenda

There can be no bargaining on it: President B.J. Habibie must take immediate, concrete, transparent and professional actions to lay bare the many cases of corruption, collusion and nepotism, beginning by examining ex-President Soeharto. Although all this will have to be done in accordance to the principles of lawfulness, truth and justice, we would like to underline the fact that investigating the ex-president is a part of our national political agenda.

In order that the public can be sure that those efforts are undertaken, we agree with National Mandate Party chairman Amien Rais that President Habibie should be given one month to begin his investigation of Soeharto. What this means is that in the next few days noticeable steps in that direction must be taken. Another urgent point on our national political agenda concerns the holding of general elections. We all agree that the scheduled general elections must be thoroughly prepared in every aspect and not only in as far as the actual balloting is involved, but also the follow-up.

Up to the present, however, the drafting of the political laws concerned continues to invite debate. It is not clear what the rules that are to govern the campaigning will be like. The question of funding remains unclear. It has still not been decided who will make up the independent, national or international watchdogs. In the meantime only six months are left before the actual balloting is scheduled to take place and the time schedule cannot be postponed. Then there is the question of the post-voting situation, which would concern such matters as possible coalition arrangements and how the new government and other state institution should be set up.

For that purpose, we suggest that the government and political party leaders sit down and communicate intensively with each other in an atmosphere of down-to-earth openness and in a spirit of dedication towards the nation and national concord. Although partisan sentiments will always be present in party politics and during general elections, all parties involved should be able to perform professionally.

In this context of ensuring professional political communication, we must all agree that the presence of an active, critical and independent national media is necessary. Both the government and the political parties must open themselves towards the mass media and rely on them as a means of political communication.

-- Merdeka, Jakarta