The new reformist quartet

The new reformist quartet

Since Oct. 21, 1999 this country has a new reformist quartet
which will guide its people to enter the third millennium, after
two days of drama full of tears of disappointment and joy. As
many feared all along, the decisions were indeed taken by people
outside the building of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR),
but the judges were on the streets.

Politically, the quartet is the most ideal team to cope with
the enormous challenges ahead. The time to kiss each other should
be brief and businesslike. The new government should now first
bring the economy again to normalcy. International trust in the
private sector must be restored quickly, foreign investment be
doubly encouraged and exports stepped up.

Naturally, there will be "dirty" leftovers to sweep clean, and
bureaucracy to be retrained mentally. The whole restructuring
program, and all the political parties' ambitions must now be
concentrated on welfare programs, if they want to still retain
the reformist spirit.

It is expected that President Abdurrahman Wahid will head the
fight against corruption in favor of modest and honest living.
And Vice President Megawati should press for greater regional
autonomy and education, among other things. MPR Speaker Amien
Rais should not stop earnestly and honestly fighting against
malpractice and continue to criticize whoever violates ethics and
morality. While House Speaker Akbar Tandjung's first priority is
to coordinate the aspirations of the political parties' welfare
program, and to ensure that at the end of the day the ideal of a
new Indonesia will materialize.

It is in this context we should stop for a moment to recall
the students' great contribution, whose reformist spirit and
sacrifices (in blood and lives) have made all the joy the nation
is now experiencing possible.

GANDHI SUKARDI

Jakarta