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 But it is unlikely that the aide could have withdrawn the money without the blessing of his boss.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