Political observers fault leaders with negligence

Political observers fault leaders with negligence

JAKARTA (JP): Observers lamented here on Tuesday that all
political elites, including President Abdurrahman Wahid, were too
busy searching for leverage in the next general election while
neglecting their larger responsibilities to the state.

In a seminar to mark the 35th anniversary of Kompas daily,
political observer Mochtar Pabottingi, lawyer Abdul Hakim Garuda
Nusantara and sociologist Ignas Kleden charged that political
elites have not displayed a commitment to improve the quality
life in Indonesia.

Abdul Hakim Garuda Nusantara cited as examples, new
indications of corruption cases, abuse of power and fighting
among elites to obtain governmental posts to strengthen party
funding.

Abdul Hakim accused President Abdurrahman Wahid, Vice
President Megawati Soekarnoputri, House of Representative Speaker
Akbar Tandjung and People's Consultative Assembly Speaker Amien
Rais of being busy augmenting sources of finance through
governmental posts.

"It will be impossible to ask Abdurrahman and Megawati to stay
out from the economic field because their parties' interests are
also at stake," Abdul Hakim said during the seminar.

He further said the different approach by the government and
the House in solving many corruption and human rights abuse cases
further indicated the existence of political bargaining between
the elites.

The new cases along with many other unresolved corruption and
human rights abuse cases and the lack of progress in the economic
field have led many to question the commitment of national
leaders to reform.

Mochtar Pabottingi remarked that most political elites do not
really pay attention to the public's demands.

"We have to urge the party elites to improve their political
ways," he said.

Sociologist Ignas Kleden said the stagnant condition of the
reform movement is evidence that so called political players have
proven themselves to be "amateurs".

"Leaders in the House are always expressing comments which are
actually unnecessary...It's really just a show for the public.
Meanwhile the government always takes everything lightly," Ignas
said. (dja)