Proreform leaders must learn to compromise
The clock on political reform has been ticking away since the resignation of president Soeharto on May 21. Hermawan Sulistyo, a political researcher at the Indonesian Institute of Sciences and executive director of the Research Institute for Democracy and Peace, discusses what progress has been made.
Question: Do you think the progress of political reform has been as fast as expected by students and intellectuals?
Answer: No. The government and the House of Representatives (DPR) have been trying to meet reformers' demands for the eradication of corrupt, collusive and nepotistic practices, but they are too slow in the structural adjustment of the country's political system, which will include the amendment of political laws, the organization of a free and fair general election and the holding of a general session for properly recruited members of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR). Deteriorating economic conditions actually seem unviable for the delay of all these processes of political structural adjustment until after the end of this year, but the government and DPR are apparently trying to slow down the processes.
I am afraid that if the processes... cannot be completed by December, sporadic rioting and crimes... will increase throughout the country.
Q: What is impeding the advance of political structural adjustment?
A: The problem is the government's reluctance to accelerate the structural adjustment for the reason that it wants to concentrate more on the improvement of economic conditions.
The real reason is actually the government wants to retain its power after the structural adjustment. Almost all members of the current cabinet, except Tanri Abeng and Panangian Siregar, for example, are trying to collect credit points for public popularity. Minister of Justice Muladi, for instance, is trying to obtain popularity by releasing political prisoners and detainees, Minister of Cooperatives Adi Sasono by allocating credits for cooperatives and small businesses, Minister of Manpower Fahmi Idris by allowing the establishment of new trade unions and Minister of Information Muhammad Yunus by amending regulations on press licensing.
Political forces outside the current political system are also trying to use the coming seven months to build up political strength, so they can take part in the general election...
Q: How do students and intellectuals respond to the slow progress?
A: Many of them are not content because they actually want the political reform as a one-stop process of political transformation to include the replacement of the president and his cabinet, as well as the adjustment of the political system.
Some are content with the slow progress, realizing that such a reform process cannot be accomplished in under a year, while some others are now partisans by supporting certain political forces...
Q: How do you see the stance of the Armed Forces (ABRI)?
A: ABRI will maintain its wait-and-see stance because it is really in a very difficult position. If it takes a severe action against demonstrating students, for example, demonstrations on a larger scale would certainly erupt in the following days.
Q: How can we settle disputes among proreform activists, whose comments and sporadic demonstrations have caused political uncertainty?
A: I think ABRI can play an active role by forcing all the disputing leaders of proreform activists to gather in a hall for discussions... ABRI personnel and university students should guard them... and not allow any of them to quit the discussions before a consensus is reached. In this way of national reconciliation, I think disputes can be settled and reform procedures can be formulated in less than a month.
Q: Do you expect the reform process to proceed even if the current government retains power after the planned election?
A: I don't think there will be anybody who can stop the rolling ball of reform... people's interests will be better served.
However, if Habibie maintains power, the reform progress will slow down and many aspects related to the old (Soeharto) regime will not be able to be reformed...
Q: How far are you involved in the reform process?
A: I am involved in one of the two major teams currently formulating recommendations for the amendment of political laws. One of the teams, led by Mochtar Pabottingi, groups 15 political researchers of LIPI, while the other, established by the Ministry of Home Affairs, groups academicians led by Ryaas Rasyid of the state-run Institute of Administration Sciences.
Q: Do you see any grooming of national leaders?
A: No. Proreform students are even against any effort to appoint leaders or figures. However, I see many figures having the potential to become national leaders, such as Ichlasul Amal from Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta. (riz)