Unwavering leadership needed

It is the President's prerogative right to suspend or even dismiss any of his Cabinet ministers. However, as (the head of the government of) a country aspiring to uphold the rule of law, the President would have done better to stick to the earlier agreement to wait for the findings of a special team appointed by the Attorney General's Office. The point is that not until the Attorney General's Office has declared him a suspect can the findings of the human rights commission on East Timor justify Wiranto's suspension.

The lesson we as a nation can draw from this episode is that the President should be unfaltering in making his decisions. He should remain consistent even in the face of pressure from both inside the country and from abroad. Such a stance would provide the people with a good example of firm, meticulous leadership.

-- Republika, Jakarta