Power's corrupting effect

Power's corrupting effect

(Former President Abdurrahman) Wahid was keenly aware of the
need to attack widespread corruption and cronyism to promote
democracy in Indonesia. Facing fierce resistance from those with
ties to the old regime willing to resort to terrorism against
opponents. Wahid sought to reveal the full scope of the Suharto
family's vast accumulation of ill-gotten wealth.

But Wahid became embroiled in a political finance scandal and
began rejecting criticism. It was the classic story of a
politician falling prey to the corrupting effects of political
power.

If the (People's Consultative) Assembly gets into the habit of
jeopardizing the office of the presidency, political strife will
continue unabated, contributing to the broad perception that a
civilian politician can never be a good leader and encouraging
selection of a military ruler.

Indonesia's flawed political system is a ubiquitous relic of
the Suharto era that bedevils society. Megawati's primary mission
is to free Indonesia from such relics and build a solid
foundation of democracy to ensure political stability.

-- Asahi Shimbun, Tokyo