Rotten system

Rotten system

Although we have had B.J. Habibie's administration for a
little over 100 days, since the fall of Soeharto in May, we still
feel that the decades-old rotten system of the New Order remains.
Many figures of Soeharto's Cabinet are found in the present
government.

Also, it is interesting to note some articles in the media
discussing and criticizing the dual function of the Armed Forces
(ABRI). Many want the dual function abolished or reduced to an
extent that the nation should not be exposed to external threats.

The Marsinah and Udin cases and the July 27 incident would not
have happened if ABRI had not interfered deeply in social and
political problems.

Now, it is the era of reform in which we are supposed to build
a civil society, a democratic government; where there will be no
government monopoly of truth, where transparency is the people's
concern, where people respect each other's views and opinions.
There should no longer be any effort, by any person or group, to
cover up or manipulate data and conceal the truth. It is high
time the people uprooted the decades-long rotten system
implemented by the New Order regime. I hope President Habibie
feels that he has "nothing to lose" and has the courage to make a
"big bang" (to borrow Amien Rais' words) to eliminate the age-old
practices of corruption, collusion and nepotism.

H.W. PIENANDORO

Bogor, West Java