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