Unrest to persist in 1999: Bakin
JAKARTA (JP): Chief of the State Intelligence Coordinating Agency (Bakin), Zaini Azhar Maulani, on Wednesday predicted that political tension would increase next year, but riots would not likely match the scale of those which happened in May.
One reason, he said, was that only a small group of people want a change in state leadership.
He told reporters before a Cabinet plenary meeting at the State Secretariat that given the different political environment and conditions next year, "We'll experience an increasing trend of unrest in 1999, but this will not manifest itself in anything as big as the mid-May 1998 rioting."
One difference, he said, was that prior to former president Soeharto's resignation, "almost all the people demanded changes in the state leadership."
"But now there is only a small group of people that are described as anarchic who still want a change in the state leadership," he said without elaborating.
Another factor differentiating the scale of riots next year was that people would be fed up with all this political confusion, Maulani added.
Recently the government confirmed the findings of its Joint Fact-finding Team that during the May riots which caused massive destruction, 76 women were violated in Jakarta.
The Team also reported more than a 1,000 died in burning stores and charged that the violence was organized.
The three-star retired general said the increasing political temperature was logical as there would be two big items on the political agenda next year -- the general election slated for June 7 and the General Session of the People's Consultative Assembly scheduled from Oct. 28 until Nov. 10.
Wednesday's plenary Cabinet meeting, continuing a year-end tradition from former president Soeharto, was also attended by Chief Justice Sarwata, Chairman of the Supreme Audit Body Satrio B. Joedono, and Chairman of the Supreme Advisory Council A.A. Baramuli.
Among other things the meeting heard reports on the proposed State Budget for the next fiscal year which begins April 1.
The draft would be proposed to the House of Representatives in January.
After the meeting Minister of Information Muhammad Yunus quoted President B.J. Habibie as saying that all officials should use their limited funds as effectively and efficiently as possible.
Expenses for overseas trips and ceremonies should be made as low as possible, he added.
Habibie, as quoted by Yunus, also said purchase of materials and services for the government should be organized openly, devoid of practices of corruption, collusion and nepotism.
Before the meeting Coordinating Minister for Political Affairs and Security Feisal Tanjung made an attempt to call on potential rioters and demonstrators to quit their activities for the sake of the nation.
"Our economic development is halted, while a number of foreign investors have withdrawn plans to invest in Indonesia, saying that is no security assurance for their investment here," he told reporters at his office.
He said that there was actually no need for demonstrations and dissatisfaction against the government and described its commitment to reform as serious.
Indications of this commitment, he said, were to be found in its seriousness in holding a fair and honest general election, among other things through the organization of a process which would no longer be dominated by the government.
He said the government's commitment to reform could also be seen through the freedom given to former detainees and those involved in 1965's abortive coup attempt by the outlawed Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) to vote in next year's general election.
The assurance is included in the government draft on elections which is currently being deliberated in the House of Representatives.
"But whether they will be able to be elected would depend on the People's Consultative Assembly," Feisal said.
Minister of Justice Muladi last week cited Habibie's promise that the government will soon release 50 political prisoners or detainees, including East Timorese and Acehnese activists. (imn)