Political reforms not for barter: Observers

JAKARTA (JP): Political observers said over the weekend that there should be no bargaining on the urgency of political reforms in the country.

Secretary-general of the Association of Indonesian Moslem Intellectuals (ICMI), Adi Sasono, and the University of Indonesia's Yusril Ihza Mahendra said separately on Saturday that any questions over the need for reforms were void.

Adi, also chairman of the Center for Information and Development Studies (CIDES), an ICMI think tank, sought the government's willingness to let people share opinions on state affairs and ideas in times of crisis.

"The forum to absorb the people's aspirations could be a national dialog, seminars or discussions," he told the media after moderating a seminar on human resources development, held by the Sunda Kelapa Moslem Youths.

Adi suggested that influential public figures should be invited to participate in the national dialog, believing it would be positive for the public in understanding the government's policies.

"People will then get the impression that the government is really willing to listen to their aspirations."

He also said it could help reduce the people's degree of radicalism.

He cited the chairman of the 28-million strong Muhammadiyah Moslem organization, Amien Rais, chairman of the 30-million strong Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) Moslem organization Abdurrahman Wahid and the ousted leader of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI), Megawati Soekarnoputri, among the public figures who should be invited.

Adi said organization of the forums should rest mainly with the government.

Meanwhile, Yusril Ihza Mahendra said the monetary crisis could not be settled through economic reforms alone.

"We need political rather than economic reforms," he said, adding that the government now needed to regain the people's trust.

"The people, including the conglomerates, do not believe the government anymore," he said. "How could they trust the government if it continues to provide privileges to certain individuals?"

He said there should be reforms in the country's political system, including the bureaucracy, which took the public's aspirations into account.

He added the government should not conceal the "sickness" anymore.

"It's completely wrong to say that there has been nothing wrong with our country," he said.

Adi said the gauge of whether the government would be willing to implement reforms would later be seen in the final legislation issued by the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR).

"There shouldn't be any gap between the MPR's products and the people's aspirations for reforms."

Members of the 1,000-strong MPR will reconvene next March to elect a president and a vice president, and endorse the 1998/2003 State Policy Guidelines.

Opposition

Adi welcomed the idea of establishing an opposition party in the country.

"Any political reforms should be aimed at establishing the 'check-and-balance' mechanism in the political system.

"The idea of establishing an opposition party is logical and in line with the people's increasing political awareness and global challenges of the 21st century. The system of one political organization and two political parties might not be appropriate anymore."

Adi said that establishing an opposition party did not necessarily mean that there would be only two parties in the country's political system -- the ruling party and its opposition.

"The number of political parties, which function as the controlling parties, can be more than one," he said.

He, however, said that the limitation on the number of political parties should occur naturally and not be artificially decided by those in power.

"Give the people's freedom to establish their own political party according to their political aspirations," he said. (imn)