By Ethen Lieser
By a 365-4 vote, Indonesia’s parliament decided to begin impeachment proceedings against President Abdurrahman Wahid, who has come under scrutiny for political corruption and financial collapse. However, the 60-year-old Muslim cleric vowed to fight to hold onto his job. To impose martial law and eradicate the parliament, Wahid had threatened to declare a state of emergency.
It has been a tumultuous year for Wahid, who became president after Suharto resigned in 1998 following the Asian financial crisis, and his successor B.J. Habibie, who lasted 17 months before withdrawing from a presidential race. The parliament censured Wahid Feb. 1 for his alleged involvement in the theft of $4 million from the state food agency. The Wahid also failed to report a $2 million gift from the Sultan of Brunei. On April 30, the parliament issued a second censure, which could trigger impeachment proceedings under constitutional rules.
“For a nation that is the fourth most populated in the world, there has been a leadership vacuum in Indonesia,” said Edward Liu, the organizer of a Web site (www.huaren.org) that has provided extensive coverage on Indonesia. “And it has cost enormous damages on the potential economy and political stability.”
If Wahid is forced to leave office, it would be the first time in Indonesian history that a president has been impeached. The parliament has two months to establish rules for the impeachment proceedings, which could start in August. Though it is unclear, Wahid’s replacement could be Vice President Megawati Sukarnoputri, the daughter of Indonesia’s founding president, Sukarno. The constitution calls for vice presidential succession only if the head of state resigns or dies.
While all eyes have been on the nearly-blind Wahid, Jon Oei, the founder of the San Francisco-based human rights organization Indonesian Chinese American Network (ICANET), believes Wahid isn’t the only person who should be blamed for the country’s downfall.
“I believe Wahid is part of the problem, but I don’t think in the absence of Wahid, Indonesia would necessarily get back on track,” Oei said. “The problem is that there are certain people in the military that are trying to sabotage the country. The generals can do whatever they want without fear of punishment. And it’s not just the Indonesian military but also the people who belong to the old Suharto order.
“So unless the Indonesian government can overcome those types of people by investigating and arresting those perpetrators, the nation will be doomed,” he added.
Oei said Wahid actually tried his best to “resolve the economy.” Without any handle on law and order, though,Wahid was powerless to make any substantial change. However, Oei applauded Wahid for reversing laws that allowed Indonesians of Chinese decent to learn Chinese and celebrate Chinese New Year without persecution. But at the same time, those types of changes won’t necessarily alleviate Indonesia’s political and economic turmoil.
“I would like to see a leader who is capable and able to rally the country together,” Liu said. “That person has to deal with the economic fundamentals and utilize the vast economic resources to their full potential. Indonesia is heading into a time of great stress and they need to have a leader who is completely corruption-free and has in mind the best interests of the country. And who is capable of confronting the oligarchs in Indonesia.”
Reach Ethen Lieser at elieser@asianweek.com. |
