Steep Road in Fulfilling the Promise of ‘Reformasi’ in 1998

KOMPAS/EDDY HASBY

Students from Jakarta, Bogor, Tangerang and Bekasi storm the Senayan legislative complex in Jakarta in May 1998, demanding reform and the resignation of President Soeharto. Some students took action by sitting on the roof of the legislative building that houses the People’s Consultative Assembly and the House of Representatives.

"I’ve decided to resign from the presidency, effective immediately o Thursday, May 21, 1998," said President Soeharto when he resigned from his position as the president (Kompas, 22 May 1998). The presidency finally fell into the hands of BJ Habibie.

In his inaugural address as president, BJ Habibie understood the aspirations of the people who demanded change in political life in accordance with the situation at the time. People demanded reform in the government.

A week before Soeharto stepped down, there was a wave of demonstrations in a number of cities conducted by students, supported by scholars and community leaders.

The people’s dissatisfaction 22 years ago is still felt until today. At least, as it is reflected in the results of the Kompas survey in early May. There is still public dissatisfaction with the reform process, either in the political, legal, and economic or government bureaucracy.

The people’s dissatisfaction 22 years ago is still felt until today.

The ideals of building clean politics and such as expected in reformasi, have not been achieved. As many as 65.5 percent of respondents expressed their dissatisfaction with reform in politics.

The high level of dissatisfaction indicates that people regard that the various changes in the political field taking place so far have not really provided significant benefits for people\'s welfare. In fact, the democracy in politics is actually a tool for the welfare of society.

Also read : Waiting for Godot every May

JB SURATNO

International Monetary Fund (IMF) managing director Michel Camdessus (left) observes President Soeharto sign the IMF Memorandum of Economic and Financial Policies on 15 Jan. 1998. Soeharto finally agreed to carry out economic reforms for a total loan of US$4 billion, following the plummeting value of the rupiah to Rp 11,700 on 7 January 1998, or three days after the announcement of the State Budget (RAPBN) based on an exchange rate of Rp 4000 per US dollar.

Efforts to create a government that is clean and free of corruption, collusion and nepotism (KKN), cannot be separated from the election of the people in filling public positions. General elections and direct regional head elections, as one of the achievements of the reform, are still marred by transactional politics. Political interests that are not carried out in ethical ways will result in political practices that are far from the ideals of the 1998 reformasi.

High-cost regional elections make the political costs too "expensive". This condition has caused politicians or regional heads to fall into the temptation of corruption. Series of regional head corruption cases handled by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) reflect this phenomenon.

Although the practice of high cost politics tends to go hand in hand with direct electoral democracy, the public appreciates the election process and consider it better than that in the New Order era. If during the New Order era the public could not directly elect the president, regional heads, and legislative members, now the public could determine directly whom they thought could bring their aspirations. This opinion was conveyed by 70.4 percent of respondents.

Also read : Preventing Human Rights Violations

In addition to direct elections, other political aspects that are quite appreciated by the public are related to the making of laws, the control of the House of Representatives (DPR) over government, and the role of political parties.

Although the appreciation rates in these three sectors are not too high, they at least provide an illustration that the legislature has tried to carry out the reform agenda. This was very different from that in the New Order Era, when the legislative body seemed to be merely became a stamp for the ruling regime.

Also read : Waiting for the President’s Promises

Kompas/Julian Sihombing

Riot police beat a fallen student on 12 May 1998 while dispersing a student protest demanding President Soeharto’s resignation at Trisakti University in Grogol, Central Jakarta.

Corruption

Almost in line with politics, reform in the field of law also remains dissatisfied. This dissatisfaction was expressed by 81.6 percent of respondents. The issue of corruption is also a public concern in the reform in the legal field. Although the KPK has existed since 2002, corruption cases continue to occur. Corruption perpetrators handled by the KPK are mostly public officials nominated by political parties, such as members of the DPR / DPRD (Regional Legislative Council), governors, and regents and mayors.

Corruption also still occurs in the world of justice. The practice of the judiciary mafia and the commercialization of legal cases have not yet been fully overcome in the reform era. A number of judicial apparatuses, such as judges and clerks, are also among those tried by KPK due to alleged bribery when handling cases.

Corruption also still occurs in the world of justice.

The commitment of the state to resolve cases of past human rights violations remains weak and it needs a serious work in order to be able to fully uphold the rule of law. For examples, the resolution of Semanggi I and II cases which has caused the losses of lives of many students is still under the dark until today.

Meanwhile, in the economic field, the public expressed dissatisfaction with the reforms carried out so far. The dissatisfaction was expressed by 65 percent of respondents. Only 28.7 percent of respondents were satisfied. Various breakthroughs have actually been made by the government to reduce economic inequality and open up as many jobs as possible.