The race among parties

The race among parties

The reform movement has been fighting for its life amid increasing uncertainties. To certain groups of students, the reform movement has been dead, thus they urge President Megawati Soekarnoputri and Vice President Hamzah Haz to resign for failing to maintain the spirit of reform.

However, amid the lack of reform spirit, a couple of parties have been able to buck the skepticism -- the United Development Party (PPP) and Golkar Party.

The two parties have opened themselves to the public for membership. PPP for instance, has invited those willing to be members of the legislative body representing the Islamic-based party.

Golkar, cornered by certain quarters, has claimed to be the most prepared for reforms by recruiting its presidential nominee through a convention.

Is it wrong for parties not to open themselves to outsiders to be nominated for president? Of course not, as it is an agreement that has to be appreciated.

However, both PPP and Golkar have shown the courage to change. One of the reasons why reform is fading away is that the elite group lack the courage to make sacrifices.

It is not enough for PPP and Golkar to race in inviting outsiders to presidential nomination, to prove that they are reformists.

Old and new parties are faced with the question on the willingness of their leaders to leave their positions in the party once they are elected as public officials.

If party leaders are daring enough to do that, they will do a good turn for this nation's life. -- Media Indonesia, Jakarta

; ANPAk..r.. Otherop-school-buildings-destroyed Destroying school buildings unacceptable JP/6/

Destroying school buildings unacceptable

Since the military offensive was launched on Monday, at least 183 schools have reportedly been torched and destroyed in the restive province of Aceh.

We were informed that it was the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) that was behind the destruction, but GAM apparently believes that the schools had been incinerated by the government to spread its propaganda to the students.

The tragedy has forced students, including those who were scheduled to take their final examinations, to give up their education for the time being.

Many of the students burst into tears upon seeing their ruined school in flames. Gone was the place where they prepared for their futures and developed their social skills.

The reconstruction of the schools will take anywhere from six months to a year, during which time the students' educational careers would be interrupted.

We don't have any idea as to why schools were targeted, but we do believe that not a single citizen in the country wants the younger generation to lose the opportunity to build their futures.

The destruction of the schools is obviously not to be tolerated, so we demand that the security authorities protect other schools from possible attacks.

The integrated (military) operation, including the humanitarian aid and law enforcement operations, must go ahead.

We do hope that the violence will end soon, and that security and peace in Aceh can be established.

It is impossible to develop the future without security and peace.

-- Kompas, Jakarta

; ANPAk..r.. Otherop-airport-access Blocking access to the airport JP/6/

Blocking access to the airport

PT Angkasa Pura II, the company that manages Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, has the legal right to close the M1 gate on the public road leading to the airport for security reasons.

However, the road where the M1 gate is located also functions as a shortcut for motorists who need to go to the area surrounding the airport. For those who work in North and West Jakarta, too, the M1 gate has been very convenient.

The M1 gate was erected especially to help those who work and conduct daily business in the airport complex. Ojek, or motorcycle taxi drivers, have been operating near the gate since then.

However, the generosity of the airport authority to open the gate to public has disappeared after a bomb exploded at the airport a couple of weeks ago, and has caused serious problems for the surrounding community.

PT Angkasa Pura II should have calculated the impact the closure of the gate -- which has provoked anger among locals, including ojek drivers -- would have on the surrounding community before making such a decision.

-- Warta Kota, Jakarta