Undoing democratic progress must be avoided

Undoing democratic progress must be avoided

TOKYO: Indonesia's parliament (legislature) has voted to start
impeachment proceedings against scandal-wracked President
Abdurrahman Wahid in a move that could invite a long and bloody
power struggle in the deeply troubled country.

An extraordinary session of the People's Consultative Assembly
is expected to be convened in August to decide whether to oust
Wahid. The chances of a political compromise that would keep the
embattled president in power appear slim.

Wahid's supporters, a minority bloc in the parliament, are
turning to violence to prevent his impeachment, inciting Muslim
loyalists to attack religious buildings and the offices of rival
parties. The start of impeachment proceedings could lead to more
serious disturbances. The situation on the archipelago of 200
million people is nearing crisis point.

The turmoil started in May last year, when a local magazine
blew the lid off a corruption scandal. One of the president's
close aides allegedly embezzled Rp 35 billion (about 400 million
yen) from a state agency and distributed it among politicians. A
related scandal involves an improper donation by the sultan of
Brunei.

Wahid has denied any link with these scandals. But it is
unlikely that the aide could have withdrawn the money without the
blessing of his boss. The parliament decided the president was
involved and warned him to change his "self-righteous" manner of
running the government. Wahid, however, remained deaf to the
criticism.

Instead of mending his ways, the 60-year-old Muslim leader
brazenly defied the charges leveled at his presidency. He started
threatening his critics, saying his impeachment would trigger
nationwide riots and lead to disintegration of the country
because the provinces of Aceh and Irian Jaya would become
independent.

Wahid is often said to have two widely differing personae, one
as a pro-democracy leader who fought the dictatorship of
Soeharto, and the other as a blue-blooded leader of the nation's
biggest Muslim organization founded by his grandfather.

When he assumed power two years ago with a mandate to promote
democracy and reform, Wahid displayed reassuring democratic
instincts. Since his power base was hit by the scandals, however,
his spoiled, wayward persona as a member of the religious elite
has started to dominate.

In a last-ditch bid to avoid humiliation, Wahid tried to
strike a power-sharing deal with his popular vice president,
Megawati Soekarnoputri, only to be snubbed.

In addition, Wahid threatened to declare a state of emergency,
which would have allowed him to impose martial law and dissolve
the parliament. But he was forced to back down because of strong
opposition from the military. Any attempt by the president to
suppress moves to oust him will only worsen the confusion.

Wahid's supporters should keep themselves from committing the
folly of trying to thwart the impeachment proceedings by force.
Using violence against their political foes would amount to
killing the country's hard-won democracy.

An extended period of political uncertainty involving much
bloodshed would devastate Indonesia's economy, which is showing
tentative signs of recovery following the financial crisis of
1997. An economic downturn could further deepen the political
turmoil, creating a vicious circle.

What is most important for the country is to establish the
rule of law. Wahid should remember this political gospel he once
preached.

-- The Asahi Shimbun