Soeharto's resignation gets warm welcome

JAKARTA (JP): Leading public figures and organizations expressed relief at the news of Soeharto's resignation yesterday, but doubted whether President B.J. Habibie was the most prudent choice of replacement to end the crisis beleaguering Indonesia.

Many debated what measures Habibie should now take, not only to justify his leadership but to rehabilitate the country politically, economically and socially. Also frequently discussed were the questions of whether an extraordinary session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) was needed to hear Soeharto's account of leadership, and how much time should elapse before general elections to recruit new, credible legislators can take place.

Critics said that given Habibie's close relationship to Soeharto, it was doubtful whether his administration would differ significantly from the previous regime. Some bluntly rejected Habibie and called for the election of another president.

Leading government critic Amien Rais decided to withhold his endorsement, reserving his judgment until he saw the line-up of Habibie's cabinet.

"If the new cabinet consists of corrupt people, or ... stinks of nepotism, then I will not endorse Habibie's government," Amien said. He would not say what he planned to do if he found the new cabinet was not to his liking.

But, stressing that he regarded Habibie as a friend, he said that he did not think the new leader would be Soeharto's puppet. "If somebody is intelligent enough to make an aircraft, I hope he is intelligent enough not to be a puppet leader," he said.

He insisted that Habibie's government should be transitional, and that the new President should be in office for no more than six months.

Amien also said Soeharto should not be spared from the law and must stand trial for alleged abuses of power during his 32-year rule. "Not immediately, but later, after the situation becomes stable and everything has gone back to normal, I think we can talk about investigating Soeharto's past through a fair and just trial," he said without elaborating.

"But this should not be carried out for revenge."

Another critic, former environment minister Emil Salim, agreed Habibie's administration should be for a transitional period only. Establishing political laws to safeguard a general election and an extraordinary session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) to be held within six months was the new government's top priority, he added.

The MPR should then elect a new president, Emil said, adding that Habibie must now prove his commitment to rooting out nepotism, corruption and collusion.

"Otherwise, we seriously doubt if we will be able to accept him, even as a transitional president," said Emil, who is also the leader of Gema Madani (the Echo of Civil Society), an association of pro-reform activists.

Emil also called on Habibie to avoid "centralizing power."

Abdurrahman Wahid, chairman of the 30 million-strong Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), expressed hope that Habibie would develop a new, and better relationship with the Moslem organization which he chairs.

Abdurrahman, popularly known as Gus Dur, said Habibie's appointment was constitutional and should not be contested. He called on NU members across the country to continue with their lives as normal, despite the sudden political upheaval.

"People should not bear grudges against Habibie ... don't just see him as the person he is, also remember the position that he now has to bear," he was quoted by Antara as having said.

Frans Seda, a former cabinet minister who later joined the campaign against Soeharto, pointed out that despite taking over power from Soeharto, Habibie had yet to receive a mandate from the People's Consultative Assembly. "This could prove to be a problem in the future," he said.

"I hope Habibie can prove that he is the right man for this transitional period, as we have all heard how loudly students voiced their dissatisfaction (over his appointment)," Seda said. "The students should calm down a bit and view this period as transitionary."

Mar'ie Muhammad, a former cabinet minister, said: "Even though Habibie is not someone who really meets the people's expectations, his presence cannot be helped. He is there as a transitional figure in order to prevent a power vacuum from forming.

"The most pressing agenda for the nation is to overcome the economic crisis and the crisis of confidence by immediately rehabilitating and stabilizing the economy," the former finance minister said.

"Habibie's cabinet, especially his economic team, should consist of people who are viewed as credible by educated local and international observers. The cabinet must also combat corruption, collusion and nepotism. The President should be a good role model," he said.

"For the new government to be able to work effectively, it needs calm and the support of the people, including students," he concluded.

Praises

Sultan Hamengkubuwono X, the traditional monarch of Yogyakarta, praised Soeharto's decision to resign and said that it proved the latter's statesmanship and grace.

"The road to total reform...is now smoother, and the Indonesian people have managed to avert a possible dangerous conflict," he said. He was convinced the transfer of power was legally valid, but that a special session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) should be held to ensure Habibie's administration was legitimate.

House Speaker Harmoko and his deputies also praised Soeharto's decision to resign. Harmoko, who along with his deputies attended a brief meeting with Soeharto moments before the latter relinquish power, said the resignation was proof of his wisdom and statesmanship.

"Pak Harto listened to the House request for a presidential succession," he said, "And he chose a constitutional mechanism to see that through."

Irsyad Sudiro, chairman of the dominant Golkar faction in the House, said the transfer of power had protected the country from the dangers of a leadership vacuum. His colleague, Deputy House Speaker Fatimah Achmad from the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) faction said not only had Soeharto made the right decision, he had also adequately responded to the aspirations of the Indonesian people.

Meanwhile, Deputy House Speaker from the United Development Party (PPP) faction Ismail Hasan Metareum urged the new president to uphold the principles of democracy in his state policies.

"Pak Habibie should...stand above all elements in society," he said.

Scholar Ichlasul Amal from Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta called the transfer "the best political bargain" that could be hoped for. "But we still need to see how things develop. Allow Habibie to work first," he said.

His colleague, Loekman Soetrisno, however, called on the community not to be "overly overjoyed" by Soeharto's resignation as there was still a long way to go before the clean, accountable government that most people wanted was put in place.

"The goals of reform, namely a modern, democratic political life which does not need the presence of a political patron, have yet to be realized" he said. (swe/byg/emf/ivy/imn/44/23)