Saying no to

Saying no to New Order hopefuls

From Koran Tempo

The general election in 2004, as a further stage of improvement in Indonesia's democracy, must be totally free from the influence of the New Order, including the practice of money politics. To safeguard the democratic process in the elections, we must say no to presidential candidates from the New Order regime.

New Order figures are in general against reform and democracy; some are even involved in corruption. Presidential candidates from the Golkar Party convention should be reviewed, as they mostly originate from the New Order elite.

Akbar Tandjung, for instance, is not yet through with his corruption case. Recent news says that Wiranto, now running for the presidency, may have been implicated in the BNI scam.

I fully support the recent student action rejecting presidential candidates from the New Order, which has been a source of corruption now prevailing in government and private circles. On Nov. 19, University of Indonesia students demanded that the 2004 general election be free of New Order followers.

Students, as young intellectuals, should be able to safeguard reforms against the interference of New Order supporters now seeking opportunities to rise to power.

DIDIK ANDI PRIBADI Tangerang, Banten