Proof of sincerity needed

We cannot as yet see any bright spots promising that conditions conducive to economic and political progress can be established in the near future. It is possible that the burden that history is allotting him is too heavy for President Habibie. To be standing face-to-face with history is not the same as facing merely an economic and political crisis as in South Korea, Thailand and other countries battered by the economic turmoil.

If Habibie has the wisdom, the first thing he would do is to grant amnesty to political prisoners -- such as Sri Bintang Pamungkas, Mochtar Pakpahan and many others -- who championed the reform movement before us, thereby sparing the people the need to besiege the prisons to set them free. The antisubversion law should be abolished, the regulation that allows the government to revoke press publishing licenses should be rescinded, and press publications that have been banned -- Tempo, DeTik and Editor and several others -- should be allowed to publish again.

By doing so, the new President would show that he sincerely intends to bring about reforms as demanded by the people. The impression would be avoided that Habibie is stalling and buying time while waiting for the reform spirit to die on its own.

-- Merdeka, Jakarta