Value of reform

Value of reform

From Rakyat Merdeka

The reform movement has been going on for two years but its results are yet to be seen. Far from what was initially agreed upon, the values of the reform movement are still ornamental to political players. Print and electronic media abound with reports testifying to this tendency. Take, for example, the sixth item in the reform vision, namely "to put to a stop all forms or violence and or anarchy." In reality, violence and anarchy are rife now. Everywhere political aspirations are expressed through mass mobilization usually marred by violence.

Anarchy seems to be an inseparable part of street rallies. It is no longer a taboo. The political elite tend to resort to mob politics, which actually should not be destructive when it is resorted to in pursuit of a political goal, without heed to the considerations of the characteristics of a democratization process, as agreed upon in the last annual session of the People's Consultative Assembly. The political elite never seem to care about the political, social, economic and security impacts of mob politics. Neither do they bother about the impression that their mob politics may have abroad. More victims have fallen prey to this mob politics while problems related to 1,081,341 refugees of various ethnic groups across the country are yet to be solved.

The political elite resorting to mob politics in their insistence for an accelerated convening of the special session of the People's Consultative Assembly must think many times the adverse impacts their action may exert on the public.

It is better for those for or against accelerated convening of the special session of the People's Consultative Assembly to spend their energy on, for example, helping 70,225 Madurese evicted from Sampit as refugees or rehabilitating public facilities destroyed as a result of rioting in Aceh, Poso, Maluku and elsewhere across the archipelago.

May God the Almighty enlighten the political elite and their masses so that a way out may soon be found for the multidimensional crisis now gripping Indonesia.

Last but not least, it is of great urgency now to establish political communication among the top national leaders through an informal gathering in an atmosphere of national reconciliation in the interest of the nation and the state.

SUYONO

Bekasi, West Java