The waiting game continues

The waiting game continues

The nation is now starting to play the waiting game again for
the composition of the new Cabinet. It is astonishing how
impatient the millions of "onlookers", the general public and the
media in particular, have become. They expect that the new
administration can be formed within just a few days after a
crisis.

However, it is generally agreed that the upcoming Cabinet
should be a strong one with the support of the majority of the
political parties except the National Awakening Party's group of
Abdurrahman Wahid. It should further consist of experts or
technocrats who may belong to political parties or who are
independent intellectuals.

Many people in radio talks have expressed the wish that the
portfolio of defense minister be entrusted to a civilian and not
to a former military leader, however strong and influential he
may be in tackling security problems. Various regions are
demanding greater independence and some have resorted to
violence. Logically in theory a former military man would be best
to handle such situations.

As the nation expected the new list of Cabinet ministers to be
announced today it took many by surprise that the announcement
has been put off for a week to give the President more time to
study the draft composition more carefully so that no mistake is
made in the choice of personnel as well as ministries.

The business public and the media were disappointed with the
postponement. Analysts see in the postponement a sign that
political harmony has been broken and that the slow process is a
bad omen for the Megawati administration. What is encouraging for
the media is that the ministry of information has been scrapped
following nationwide protests.

GANDHI SUKARDI

Jakarta