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Web-only Exclusives
November 30, 2000

From Our Correspondent: Hirohito and the War
A conversation with biographer Herbert Bix

From Our Correspondent: A Rough Road Ahead
Bad news for the Philippines - and some others

From Our Correspondent: Making Enemies
Indonesia needs friends. So why is it picking fights?

Asiaweek Time Asia Now Asiaweek story

'LIKE TALKING TO A WALL'

Is measured reform enough reform?


Indonesia Confrontation and Crisis

Black Friday Jakarta burns again

Vigilantes The military's rent-a-thugs

THE DELEGATES FACED A formidable obstacle even before they entered the special session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR). Most of the 1,000 members of the Assembly were remnants from former president Suharto's era: about half were appointees, the other half winners of tightly controlled elections. Thus lacking credibility in the eyes of many Indonesians, the delegates plainly needed to unveil a radical package that would clear away the stench of the old order. In the end, though, what President Habibie hailed as the "product of the entire Indonesian nation" was welcomed by less than the entire nation.

During the Nov.10-13 session, Assembly members passed 12 decrees they felt would go some way in reforming the system and righting past wrongs. The government would investigate those suspected of corruption, collusion and nepotism - including Suharto and his family. The U.N. convention on human rights would be ratified. A general election was promised for May 1999 (but it could be delayed a month or two).

Other moves included scrapping extraordinary powers granted to the president, limiting his stay in office to two consecutive five-year terms and promoting small- and medium-scale enterprises. The MPR also revoked a decree that made it compulsory for all students and public servants to study the state ideology of Pancasila.

The most contentious subject concerned the involvement of the armed forces in politics. Whereas the other decrees were passed unanimously, the motion to allow the military to keep an unelected presence in parliament (part of the MPR) was met with strong objections from the Muslim-associated United Development Party (PPP), even though the military would have fewer seats. PPP members walked out of one session while the matter was being debated, and later voted against the proposal.

In the end, the bill passed anyway, with 791 delegates voting in favor and 124 against. PPP chairman Zarkasih Nur later said that he "knew his party would lose the vote, but win support from the public" - a useful advantage given that the PPP is likely to face stiff competition from other Muslim-based parties in next year's promised polls.

With no provision for the outright removal of the military from politics, the decrees failed to satisfy critics of the MPR. Students continued to demand that the entire session be rejected and that Suharto be put on trial for abuse of power during his 32-year rule. Some MPR members say they do not understand what more the students want, given that the Assembly has met many of their demands. "We've already accommodated their aspirations," says Carla Sitompul, the deputy chairperson of the government-recognized faction of the Indonesian Democratic Party. Student activist Sarbini, who has been holding talks with MPR delegates, begs to differ. "It is as if we are talking to a wall," he says. "They say yes and yes, but take no action. In what other way can we pursue our aims except by demonstrating?"

A coconut-juice seller outside the Assembly building is even more damning of the MPR: "The whole thing is a joke. They are relics of the Suharto era and should all be cleaned out." And if Assembly members can't clean themselves out, the student demonstrators would be most happy to help.

- Reported by Dewi Loveard and Tom McCawley/Jakarta


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