Reform coalition

Recently, three leaders, Megawati Soekarnoputri, Abdurrahman Wahid and Bishop Belo, met to initiate the idea of a government- backed reform coalition. Reportedly these leaders stated that a consensus among reform leaders was needed, to improve people confidence in the nation. Yet one very strong reform leader who seems to have the confidence of a great many of Indonesia's people, Amien Rais, was conspicuous by his absence from this meeting. According to news reports, Amien Rais was not invited to this coalition-building meeting. One of the meeting's hosts, Abdurrahman, explained that it was difficult to contact Amien Rais.

How much credibility can this or any other reform group have, and how much confidence can they inspire, when they deliberately exclude, for reasons that appear to be founded on petty jealousies or ego, someone who has had so prominent and responsible a role in the current reform movement? If these self- appointed reformers cannot put personal ambitions aside for the good of the nation in even this small way, how will they ever be able to transform the nation's value system from pursuit of self- interest, to devotion to the common good?

For the sake of Indonesia's future let us hope that these personages, two of whom are religious leaders as well, will do a little more soul-searching before their next coalition-building reformers' meeting.

DONNA K. WOODWARD

Medan