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