Reform and restoration

The state of dualism in the National Police leadership has ended. President Megawati Sukarnoputri -- though still unable to come up with a new cabinet -- issued a decree restoring Gen. Suroyo Bimantoro as chief of the National Police. At the same time it annuls the appointment of Chaeruddin Ismail as acting chief of police by Gus Dur (President Abdurrahman Wahid). This was President Megawati's swift reaction to the Supreme Court's approval of a request for a judgment submitted by a number of former senior police officers.

Gus Dur carried the grand mission of reform. What Megawati initiated was restoration -- putting right what was wrong. The National Police and the military -- as well as Wahid himself -- provide us with a unique lesson. Wahid, who used to be a symbol of reform and democracy, fell due to the process of democracy and reform. Wahid created doubts about the act and morality of reform. The integrity of institutions must be honored. This is how we must move towards both reform and restoration. For this reason processes must be honored in our effort to achieve results.

-- Media Indonesia, Jakarta