Watch out! Golkar maneuver

We all agree that we have made a great mistake letting the New Era abuse power and control this country for more than 32 years and yet again we nearly get trapped by a maneuver. New Functional Group (Golkar), as its new slogan, is trying to use new opportunists, confuse people and maintain old practices including money politics in order to turn down the reform movement.

Recently, United Development Party's (PPP) chairman, Hamzah Haz, expressed hope that all Muslim members of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) would elect a Muslim man as president. To my understanding, he did not express a wise view as a leader. It is merely for the benefit of Golkar which is in favor of the New Era or Habibie. The New Era regime is either afraid of or prefers Habibie to Megawati Soekarnoputri. The election results show that the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) is leading and predicted to be the winner. Controversially, some Muslim organizations have supported Megawati to be president.

State Minister of Women's Affairs Tuty Alawiah stated that she was upset with women's participation in Indonesia and expected more legislative women members in the House due to the greater number of women voters (50 percent more) than men in the June 7 election. But confusingly, she said it was not time yet for a woman to be president. The minister has honestly discriminated against equality rights which is a setback of several hundred years. She should have pioneered equity rights for what she is for.

What we should actually do is face the reality, respect people's aspirations, not manipulate the facts and be honest and gentle. Remember, Indonesians have made up their mind to eradicate corruption, collusion and nepotism and abuse of human rights.

PARLINDUNGAN SIBARANI

Jakarta