Sustaining reform spirit

With the students evicted, the clamor at the House of Representatives (DPR) complex has subsided. But the flame of total reform continues to burn everywhere.

Within the House, though, the reformist spirit appears to have diminished. Home Minister Syarwan Hamid, who has yet to let go of his job as vice-chairman of the House and the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), and Hamzah Haz, one of three House members now occupying a ministerial post, agree that a MPR extraordinary session should be held, but uniquely -- not to say strangely -- only for the purpose of electing a vice president.

Some of those who called for total reform before also seem to be slowing down. These people feel that their respective groups, or interests, have been accommodated by the present Reform and Development Cabinet. They would like to see President B.J. Habibie continue to lead the current cabinet until 2003.

On the other hand, campus activists, academics and all those who see themselves as true reformists regard the shift of power from Soeharto to Habibie as merely a first step. The next step should be the holding of a special session of the MPR for the purpose of electing a new president and vice president. Constitutional lawyer Prof. Dr. Sri Sumantri goes even further and suggests that all appointed Assembly members be replaced before a special session is held.

In the cabinet itself, Coordinating Minister of Economy, Finance and Industry Ginandjar Kartasasmita and other economic ministers have explicitly expressed their agreement with those who want total reform. They have expressed their willingness to serve as ministers for a number of months, but not for five years. This means that they see themselves as members of a transitional cabinet and support the idea of speeding up elections.

What we see in this is differing perceptions about reform. On one side are those who continue to demand total reform which would lead to an overall renewal, including of the national legislature. On the other side, we see some people whose reform spirit has slackened due to practical considerations and vested interests. The sad thing is that efforts have become apparent to reduce the prevailing reformist spirit by using the banners of religion, an issue which we all hold sacred.

This is a drift we must beware of lest the reform movement ends in an exhibition of empty rhetoric, or worse, becomes an instrument to serve certain particular interests. The reformist spirit and stamina of our reform activists must be sustained and guarded -- or else they may be swallowed up in the mode of thinking of those with established interests.

-- Media Indonesia, Jakarta