Syarwan, Akbar split over civil servants

Syarwan, Akbar split over civil servants

JAKARTA (JP): There is neutral, and then there is neutral when
it comes to the role of civil servants in politics. Two ministers
were split on Tuesday over President B.J. Habibie's instruction
that the state's 4.1 million civil servants stay out of politics.

Minister of Home Affairs Syarwan Hamid and Minister/State
Secretary Akbar Tandjung aired conflicting opinions over
President B.J. Habibie's instruction that the bureaucracy and the
Armed Forces "stay neutral, impartial and maintain the same
distance" from all poll contestants.

Habibie made the remark when he unveiled the 1999/2000 state
budget at the House of Representatives plenary session.

"... we must dispel the existing mistrust among components of
the nation, particularly among sociopolitical powers, and toward
the government," Habibie said, pledging his intention to make the
June 7 general election a success.

Syarwan underscored the neutrality of the bureaucracy and the
military as "the capital" for a free and fair poll.

"We must restore confidence in the administration," he said.
Thus, civil servants must "truly be professional public
servants", he added.

During former president Soeharto's New Order regime, members
of the Civil Servants Corps were obliged to vote for Golkar, the
political organization Soeharto used to perpetuate his power.

Akbar, who is also Golkar's chairman, argued neutrality did
not mean that civil servants must be barred from exercising their
political rights as citizens.

"Why can't they (be professional) ... and serve the public
while also acting as members or executives of a political party?"
Akbar asked.

The dominant Golkar is the sole House faction resisting the
government's motion to bar public servants from becoming members
of political parties. The other factions (the Armed Forces, the
United Development Party and the Indonesian Democratic Party)
have supported the proposal.

Syarwan insisted that civil servants be barred from entering
politics.

Akbar, however, said that Golkar could not support this
proposal.

"It is the political rights of civil servants as citizens to
vote and be elected and serve as members or executives of
political parties," Akbar argued.

In earlier debates, Golkar had invoked the question of human
rights to support its stance. Golkar deputy chairman Marzuki
Darusman said preventing public servants from entering politics
would be a violation of their rights.

Mule

Separately on Tuesday, leaders of the newly established
National Awakening Party and National Mandate Party (PAN) blasted
Golkar's stance.

"Someone please tell Golkar not to act like a mule," said
Muhaimin Iskandar of PAN. "The public is losing its sympathy for
Golkar."

The respected Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation questioned
Golkar's sincerity in arguing for the civil servants' human
rights, accusing Golkar of "double standards".

In a statement signed by chairman Bambang Widjojanto, the
foundation also questioned Golkar's defense of the allocation of
nonelected seats in the House to the Armed Forces (ABRI).

By allowing ABRI nonelected seats, Golkar has already
discriminated against people's political rights, he said.

"We doubt Golkar's insistence (on fighting in the name of
human rights)," the foundation said, adding that it suspected
Golkar's insistence on the issue had to do with protecting its
political interests.

To fight for human rights, there must be consistency, which
means not allocating seats in the House to ABRI, it said.

The foundation, instead, proposed that the House annul all
regulations obliging civil servants to become members of
organizations that are run by political parties, such as the
Indonesian Civil Servants Corps.

On the question of ABRI's presence in the House, the
government proposed ABRI be given 55 nonelected seats.

This number is not, however, final because the issue is still
awaiting further deliberation in the House.

ABRI recently pledged to remain neutral, a political move one
expert hailed as "smart" given the upcoming multiparty poll that
ensures no single majority winner -- making a coalition
inevitable.

"It is smart of ABRI not to put all its eggs in one basket...
so it can move in any direction (after the poll)," political
expert Andi A. Mallarangeng said.

Under the political laws introduced during Soeharto's rule,
Golkar was always guaranteed a victory through polls that many
people alleged were rigged with the active support of ABRI.

The present government, which initiated the political bills on
elections, political parties and the status of the House and the
People's Consultative Assembly currently being deliberated in the
House, has said it wants to amend the undemocratic laws.

However, Syarwan warned that allowing civil servants to
exercise their political rights could harm "the larger interests
of the nation".

"It could trigger conflicts within the bureaucracy itself...
it could invite suspicions... that the political rights (if
allowed) would be abused and manipulated," he argued.

Syarwan also warned of a "disaster" should the upcoming
election be rigged. "We will keep trying to convince Golkar of
this," he added. (imn/aan/swe/anr)