The erosion of public trust in government

The erosion of public trust in government

Dissolution has followed every scandal, while the law is still
on the side of those against change, writes noted lawyer Todung
Mulya Lubis.

JAKARTA (JP): The flag raised by Abdurrahman Wahid at the
beginning of his governance was one of a clean, modest and
people-oriented government.

The first days in the palace were marked by the coming and
goings of people in sandals, kyai (religious leaders) and
priests, activists, artists and ex-political detainees.

The State Palace was suddenly no longer a forbidding place and
more and more trust of what the future held came from among those
who were initially skeptical of Abdurrahman's (Gus Dur) election
to the presidency.

Amid sharp friction among social groups, an acute economic
crisis and widespread corruption, Gus Dur was seen as a blessing
which could lift the country out of the crisis.

At the same time, we were all impressed by Gus Dur's maneuvers
through which he convinced almost all countries that Indonesia
was their friend in need regarding economic recovery.

Months passed, and it was evident that the expectations were
very high. Repression by the corrupt New Order had destroyed the
nation's lifelines.

Gus Dur's government began to show troubling signs in their
ability to draw up a plan of action supported by a credible team;
instead we started to read the dangers of political party
interests in the government offices.

Conflicts among officials were not infrequent, programs which
had been agreed to were not running, while blaming each other
became fodder for public consumption.

Not surprisingly, international financial institutions helping
the recovery were deeply disappointed and frustrated, which led
to the postponement of a new letter of intent (LoI) and the
threat of postponed aid. What happened was the drop in both the
Jakarta Stock Exchange Composite Index and the value of the
rupiah -- and hardly any investors showed up.

Law reform has stood still. The Supreme Court and the lower
courts, which are considered unclean, remain largely untouched.

The corruption-ridden prosecution has yet to be cleaned up --
while almost all requirements in the LoI refer to the urgent need
of legal reform in this country as a prerequisite to economic
recovery.

On the contrary, the law remains on the side of the status quo
which has not favored change. Look how strong former president
Soeharto is, who in the past two years has managed to hold back
the legal process against himself, his family and cronies.

Look at how the prosecution and the courts have no sense of
crisis, reflected in their decisions which hurt the people, by
freeing those allegedly involved in all sorts of scandals, such
as Bank Bali and Texmaco.

Likewise, look at how the courts through their decisions have
made foreign investors shun this country, fearing arbitrary legal
action against them.

Such fears have been made worse by the failure of security
personnel in resolving violence-hit problem areas such as Aceh,
Maluku, Papua (Irian Jaya) and many other locations.

The rise of this and that civilian troop unit with all kinds
of weapons and the explosions of bombs in a number of places of
worship has made the country's image even worse.

How is anyone supposed to do business when they fear violence
and loss of human life every single day? Where is legal certainty
when suspected provocateurs in various riots walk free?

The public's trust is eroding. It would not be an exaggeration
to say that many supporters of this government are reviewing
their support. Some among them have begun to keep their distance,
thinking of a scenario to save themselves.

This phenomenon has been made clear through various articles
and seminars, and such thoughts have become even more steadfast
through each exposed scandal -- right to the latest, the Bulog
affair.

How can a government bent on eradicating corruption, collusion
and nepotism became so crudely trapped in similar practices?

Clearly the buying and selling of power with the people's
money has not stopped; and this game of money and power is
obviously so amateur, given the naivete of newcomers. The Bulog
scandal has undeniably destroyed the people's trust.

Gus Dur's government must thoroughly investigate this scandal,
and no one should make attempts at cover-ups or obstruction of
justice. All parties should be honest and open in unraveling this
tangle, so that involved parties can be brought to court.

Then Gus Dur's government should reconsolidate by establishing
an administration which is absolutely clean and committed to
democracy, rule of law and social justice.

No less than a working Cabinet of nonpartisan professionals --
the right man in the right place -- is one way out.