Sabtu, 12 April 2008

Progress slow in Indonesia's democratic transition: Gus Dur

National News - July 30, 2007
There have been strong criticisms aired against the performance of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's administration. But, an assessment by a former president on an incumbent is a rare occurrence in Indonesia. Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid, the country's president from 1999-2001 and chairman of the Board of Patrons of the National Awakening Party (PKB), talked with The Jakarta Post's Aditya Suharmoko about the ruling government's accomplishments and the country's political condition in a recent interview at the headquarters of the Nahdlatul Ulama Muslim organization.


Question: How do you perceive Indonesian politics and the current government under the leadership of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono? Answer: Indonesian politics are still in transition. Perhaps they will be better in three or four months.
I see that the current government still has many flaws. It doesn't have the courage to eradicate corruption. The Attorney General's Office (AGO) only talks, but there's no action. It doesn't have the courage to process major cases. It selects which cases to handle.
On the other hand, the government has become more cohesive. That means that government officials' actions aren't colliding with each other. For example, in matters pertaining maritime issues. Once a person says "A", it goes down as "A" to the people below. All of the maritime components say "A".
Does that mean that you are no longer concerned about the government?
You can say that. I'm apathetic about the government and I don't want to get involved in it again. I wouldn't even care if they wanted to turn this country red and blue.
So, you are disappointed with the government?
Yes, this has raised a question for me: Will the government ever be heard in this kind of situation? The legislative, executive and judicial bodies are all rotten. They only do what is beneficial for them.
It sounds like you are pessimistic about the future of this country, is that so?
Not entirely. But the facts are the facts. We need to be ready. There will be a process, perhaps a revolution. Whether it will be a bloody one or not we don't know. I think Indonesia will have to self destruct first before we can reconstruct it properly. If there's something wrong, it is that we are optimistic. Our political system can't do anything about the immoral ones.
Can this government ever be free from all of the deceit?
How can it be if it has been cheating from the very start? The result of the (2004) general elections announced by the General Elections Commission (KPU) was fraudulent. An official of the KPU confessed this to me. The current president is supposed to be Wiranto, instead of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. The National Awakening Party (PKB) was supposed to be number one in the House of Representatives, but it became number six.
What do you think of the proposal to increase the electoral threshold to five percent for the next general election because PKB is included as one of the parties that has a low electoral threshold?
I don't care. Why do I have to care? It's not fair. I've always been cheated.
When you were the president, what were your goals and your priorities?
A clean government. There wasn't any clear priority at that time. I was busy bargaining with the Indonesian Military (TNI).
Do you agree with the proposal to allow independent candidates to compete in the gubernatorial election?
I do, because it would be better to have independent candidates beside the candidates that have party backing. But where are they? Show me some. Not just talk.
I'm not participating in the (Jakarta) gubernatorial election because I was cheated. I had Agum Gumelar as a candidate. He wasn't the best, but he was available. But then SBY mixed in. He said that Gus Dur's candidate must be defeated. Well, I'd rather not participate than have trouble with him.
What do you think of the unpunished former president Soeharto?
How can he be punished? A long time ago I suggested processing him in front of the law, punishing him and then pardoning him. Finish. This (Soeharto's case) is not clear (until now). Even Soeharto himself may get a headache thinking about it.
What do you think of terrorism and jihad in Indonesia?
What can I say? There isn't any firm attitude (from the government). There isn't any courage to punish the guilty ones.
Jihad isn't important anymore. In Lombok (West Nusa Tenggara), hundreds of hectares of land were needed for the construction of an airport. The farmers refused. The governor formed squads to protect the plan. They shot the farmers. Three died.
It was the same kind of situation in Alas Tlogo (where the Marines were accused of shooting villagers and killing four at the end of May in Pasuruan, East Java).
What do you think about your daughter, Zannuba "Yenny" Arifah Chafsoh Rahman Wahid, becoming the secretary general of the National Awakening Party (PKB)?
Each person is responsible for themselves. Everybody else should mind their own business.
What are you doing currently?
I teach people to become themselves, to be honest. That's what's important. Do you have any suggestion for the people?

Sumber :The Jakarta Post




Diposting oleh Forum For Indonesia's Democratic di 08:44 0 komentar
Jumat, 2008 April 11
Progress slow in Indonesia's democratic transition: Gus Dur

National News - July 30, 2007
There have been strong criticisms aired against the performance of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's administration. But, an assessment by a former president on an incumbent is a rare occurrence in Indonesia. Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid, the country's president from 1999-2001 and chairman of the Board of Patrons of the National Awakening Party (PKB), talked with The Jakarta Post's Aditya Suharmoko about the ruling government's accomplishments and the country's political condition in a recent interview at the headquarters of the Nahdlatul Ulama Muslim organization.



Question: How do you perceive Indonesian politics and the current government under the leadership of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono? Answer: Indonesian politics are still in transition. Perhaps they will be better in three or four months.
I see that the current government still has many flaws. It doesn't have the courage to eradicate corruption. The Attorney General's Office (AGO) only talks, but there's no action. It doesn't have the courage to process major cases. It selects which cases to handle.
On the other hand, the government has become more cohesive. That means that government officials' actions aren't colliding with each other. For example, in matters pertaining maritime issues. Once a person says "A", it goes down as "A" to the people below. All of the maritime components say "A".
Does that mean that you are no longer concerned about the government?
You can say that. I'm apathetic about the government and I don't want to get involved in it again. I wouldn't even care if they wanted to turn this country red and blue.
So, you are disappointed with the government?
Yes, this has raised a question for me: Will the government ever be heard in this kind of situation? The legislative, executive and judicial bodies are all rotten. They only do what is beneficial for them.
It sounds like you are pessimistic about the future of this country, is that so?
Not entirely. But the facts are the facts. We need to be ready. There will be a process, perhaps a revolution. Whether it will be a bloody one or not we don't know. I think Indonesia will have to self destruct first before we can reconstruct it properly. If there's something wrong, it is that we are optimistic. Our political system can't do anything about the immoral ones.
Can this government ever be free from all of the deceit?
How can it be if it has been cheating from the very start? The result of the (2004) general elections announced by the General Elections Commission (KPU) was fraudulent. An official of the KPU confessed this to me. The current president is supposed to be Wiranto, instead of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. The National Awakening Party (PKB) was supposed to be number one in the House of Representatives, but it became number six.
What do you think of the proposal to increase the electoral threshold to five percent for the next general election because PKB is included as one of the parties that has a low electoral threshold?
I don't care. Why do I have to care? It's not fair. I've always been cheated.
When you were the president, what were your goals and your priorities?
A clean government. There wasn't any clear priority at that time. I was busy bargaining with the Indonesian Military (TNI).
Do you agree with the proposal to allow independent candidates to compete in the gubernatorial election?
I do, because it would be better to have independent candidates beside the candidates that have party backing. But where are they? Show me some. Not just talk.
I'm not participating in the (Jakarta) gubernatorial election because I was cheated. I had Agum Gumelar as a candidate. He wasn't the best, but he was available. But then SBY mixed in. He said that Gus Dur's candidate must be defeated. Well, I'd rather not participate than have trouble with him.
What do you think of the unpunished former president Soeharto?
How can he be punished? A long time ago I suggested processing him in front of the law, punishing him and then pardoning him. Finish. This (Soeharto's case) is not clear (until now). Even Soeharto himself may get a headache thinking about it.
What do you think of terrorism and jihad in Indonesia?
What can I say? There isn't any firm attitude (from the government). There isn't any courage to punish the guilty ones.
Jihad isn't important anymore. In Lombok (West Nusa Tenggara), hundreds of hectares of land were needed for the construction of an airport. The farmers refused. The governor formed squads to protect the plan. They shot the farmers. Three died.
It was the same kind of situation in Alas Tlogo (where the Marines were accused of shooting villagers and killing four at the end of May in Pasuruan, East Java).
What do you think about your daughter, Zannuba "Yenny" Arifah Chafsoh Rahman Wahid, becoming the secretary general of the National Awakening Party (PKB)?
Each person is responsible for themselves. Everybody else should mind their own business.
What are you doing currently?
I teach people to become themselves, to be honest. That's what's important. Do you have any suggestion for the people?

Sumber :The Jakarta Post

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