Tuesday, 7 September 1999
Parliament refuses Habibie's proposal to implement martial law
* Megawati criticizes policy of ambivalent standards
Jakarta, Kompas Online
The parliament ( ) Monday (6/9) clearly refused president Bacharuddin Jusuf
Habibie's intention to declare martial law in East Timor. The refusal was
particularly launched by the United Development Party's fraction (F- PP) of
the parliament. The intention to implement martial law, the Chairman of F-PP
DPR Zarkasih Nur disclosed, was conveyed in the consulting meeting of the
president with parliament.
"The reason (government's reason), is because the situation in Timtim (East
Timor) is already anarchy," said Zarkasih after attending the president's
Consulting Meeting with the parliament's leadership and leadership of the
fractions at the MPR/DPR building in Senayan Jakarta, Monday (6/9).
In the meeting of more than 2.5 hours the president was sided by the
coordinating minister of politics and security Faisal Tanjung, the
coordinating minister of economy, finance and industry Ginandjar
Kartasasmita, the coordinating minister for people's welfare/erasing of
poverty Harpoon Suyono, the minister of foreign affairs Ali Alatas, the
minister of information Mohammad Yunus, the minister-secretary of
state/minister of justice Muladi, the vice commander of the armed forces
admiral Widodo AS, the head of the police general (pol) Roesmanhadi and the
director general of the general administration and regional autonomy (PUOD)
of the Department of Home Affairs Ryaas Rasyid.
"F-PP strongly opposes implementation of martial law for Timtim. The
military approach all this time has made the people traumatic and not solved
the problem, said Zarkasih Nur.
Zarkasih Nur said that whatever the reason, stipulation of martial law could
not just be carried out. At this moment the aspirations of the society have
strongly developed that martial law as well as civil emergency must be
stipulated with the approval of parliament.
"If the president asks the approval of parliament, the F-PP will not give
its consent. If the executives are hardheaded to implement it, it is up to
them. But parliament will ask the executive's responsibility, said Zarkasih
who is also chairman of the United Development Party (PPP).
Megawati's critic and promise
While the general chairwoman of the central board of the Indonesia
Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) Megawati Soekarnoputri stressed that
the recent riots in Timtim which continued till the post-referendum was
fully caused by the policy of the central government which is ambivalent.
On one side Habibie offers a referendum with a face of a democratic policy,
said Megawati, but on the other side efforts to maintain Timtim as a part of
the unity of the Indonesian republic is performed with all methods in a
disguised way, including letting violence to continue.
"Taking a stand against violence of the parties which still maintain the
choice of their politics so that it creates physical clashes between the pro
and contra independence groups, is fully the responsibility of Mr. Habibie
as head of state, head of the government and the commander in chief of the
army and police of the Republic of Indonesia," was the political statement
of the presidential candidate of the PDI-P.
"As general chairwoman of the PDI-P I promise, if I will be trusted by the
people to lead Indonesia, I will always place the people of Timtim in my
heart. I shall attempt with all my strength to help with love that Timtim
can grow as a peaceful country, having a future and remaining a brother for
the whole Indonesian people," said Megawati.
"I appeal to the government, particularly to the military and the police not
to perform matters which will more seriously damage Indonesia's image in the
eyes of the international world, only to fulfill some personal ambitions,"
she said.
"Particularly for the brothers who are organized in the arrays of the
pro-integration defenders, I can really understand your feelings. I can also
really understand the feelings of the widows and the families whose husband,
brother, child or relative has sacrificed his life in performing its duty to
maintain Timtim as part of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia,"
said Mega with a choking voice.
"Therefore I promise to ask president Habibie's account seriously for all
political speculations in relation with the case of Timtim which has caused
various damages in the life as a nation and a state," said Megawati.
Habibie: I'm responsible
After the consultation president Habibie answered reporters on questions
about the situation in Timtim: "As president of the RI I'm responsible for
the whole territory of the RI, including Timtim."
According Habibie he gave the same clarification to Kofi Annan by phone in
the morning. "The secretary general of the UN said that he would call me
back this evening (Monday, 6/9 Ed.)" he said.
The consulting meeting asked Habibie to account the measures taken at the
coming SU-MPR. "Taking into account that Timtim during the integration was
also stipulated in a SU MPR," said the chairman of the DPR/MPR Harmoko who
read the conclusions of the consulting meeting.
According to Zarkasih, Habibie must indeed account for Timtim because when
he gave the option to Timtim he had neither consulted the DPR nor the MPR.
"During the consulting of three months ago, F-PP asked how Habibie dared to
give the option without consulting first."
Habibie's answer, said Zarkasih, was that the president gave as reason that
the option was to answer the revolution of the UN. The president then stated
his ability to account for it at the SU- MPR. Whatever can happen, including
the possibility that the account of the president is rejected because of the
Timtim problem.
Result of the cabinet session
The cabinet session which lasted from 15.30 till 19.00 discussed especially
the Timtim problem but produced no concrete matters. The foreign affairs
minister Ali Alatas read the statement of the UN Security Council which
among others criticized violence in Timtim which caused among others the
dead of a local staff of UNAMET,
The refugees were also discussed. According to the information minister till
September 6 there were 22,900 refugees or 5,575 family heads, but the
refugees are still coming. The Department of Public Works has prepared 52
emergency barracks and tents and placed task forces of refugees at the
border.
The minister of communications has reserved five ships for refugees which
will call Kupang. He said that electricity, Telecommunications and Merpati
Airlines still operate in Timtim. Besides that there is the need for fuel.
The information minister said that fuel was full but there were no
distributors. (*)
-----Original Message-----
From: Majalah D&R <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: Multiple recipients of list <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: Tuesday, 7 September 1999 23:25
Subject: RE: UNAMET gombal
>
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>Sent: Monday, September 06, 1999 5:55 AM
>To: Multiple recipients of list
>Cc:
>Subject: Re: UNAMET gombal
>
>amat:
>yang saya mau katakan di sini adalah bahwa represi/dominasi/marginalisasi
>itu bukan eksklusif barat [atau menurut bahasa pamflet yang anda pakai
>kemarin: 'kulit putih']. hal semacam itu juga terjadi di kebun sendiri.
>
>jadi argumen dari proposisi anda bahwa 'barat' [baca: 'kulit putih']
>adalah represor, kolonial, dan dominator tidak cukup meyakinkan. [sekali
>lagi: ini proposisi argumennya, bukan pada proposisinya]. however, kalau
>reply saya atas argumen anda, anda anggap tidak membantah argumen anda,
>it's fine with me.
>
>Satrio:
>Saya tidak melihat ada perbedaan pendapat.
>amat:
>maksud saya jelas bukan pertama-tama sekedar melihat 'what is caused by
>keterlambatan', tetapi juga 'who is it' yang terlambat itu.
>
>jelasnya begini, ambil contoh emberikan. 'barat' yang 'menemukan'
>emberikan itu bikin red indian 'hilang' dari peredaran. kalau referensi
>'barat' itu dijangkarkan [to be anchored] dalam kerangka generasi, maka
>proses penghilangan itu tidak bisa ditimpakan secara merata kepada tiga
>atau empat generasi, misalnya. pasti ada generasi yang lebih berperan
>daripada yang lain dalam proses 'penghilangan' red indian ini. generasi
>yang menyadari bahwa telah terjadi penghilangan red indian oleh generasi
>pendahulunya, pada hemat saya, memang terbebani oleh apa yang dilakukan
>oleh generasi pendahulunya, tetapi tidak sepantasnya disalahkan [mutlak]
>atas apa apa yang dilakukan oleh generasi pendahulunya. apa yang dilakukan
>oleh generasi-penemu-benua-amerika akan menjadi ingatan sosial bagi
>generasi berikutnya, tanpa bisa mengubah apa yang telah terjadi. yang
>melakukan 'atrocity' adalah generasi terdahulu [tapi oleh generasi
>'pelaku' ini atrocity tidak dilihat sebagai atrocity], generasi yang
>kemudian menyadari bahwa perbuatan generasi terdahulu adalah 'atrocity'.
>apakah relevan mengatakan bahwa generasi [yang kedua] ini 'terlambat'
>mengakui 'atrocity' pendahulunya?
>
>dalam hal ini, kemudian, issue 'terlambat atau tidak' menjadi kurang, atau
>malah tidak, relevan. yang tertinggal, barangkali, catatan-catatan,
>pengkristalan ingatan sosial yang mudah-mudahan [nobody willl guarantee]
>memberikan pelajaran kepada generasinya maupun generasi sesudahnya.
>
>dalam konteks ini lah, barangkali, perubahan cara pandang terhadap issue
>red indian [atau any issue of the past], kebijakan [policy] dan
>implementasinya dalam praksis perbuatan bisa dipahami sebagai 'pertobatan'
>atas 'misconduct in the past done by predecessors, but memories of which
>are still with the current generation].
>
>[sambil menulis argumen ini, saya merasa sedih karena seolah olah saya
>membela 'guru-peradaban' saya].
>
>anyway, what have we, as civil society, done to preserve our short-lived
>social memory? memang telah ada monumen lubang buaya, pancasila sakti,
>palagan ambarawa, yogya kembali. tapi siapa yang [paling] dilayani oleh
>monumen monumen itu? tentara.
>
>tetapi monumen apa yang kita punyai bahwa dalam sejarah, kita pernah mandi
>darah saudara sendiri? kaliwedi klaten, grubug gunungkidul, grobogan
>purwadadi, semanggi, trisakti, aceh, ambon and you name it akan lewat
>begitu saja beserta tragedi kemanusiaannya, tanpa tetenger yang bisa
>bercerita kepada anak cucu, mewasiatinya dan selalu mengingatkannya bahwa
>di dalam suatu masa nenek moyangnya dengan ringannya membunuh tetangganya.
>
>Satrio:
>Saya tidak bermaksud menyalahkan si anak atas perbuatan si bapak yang si
>anak tidak tersangkut paut. Saya hanya ingin menekankan, betapa suatu
>KEKELIRUAN KEMANUSIAAN tidak selalu bisa diperbaiki. Suatu bangsa yang
sudah
>punah tak akan bisa hidup lagi, walaupun generasi-generasi berikut sangat
>menyesali dan minta maaf seribu kali atas perbuatan generasi atasnya, yang
>berbuat kekeliruan itu.
>TNI bisa minta ampun, menyembah-nyembah, bahkan kita bisa menghukum mati
>para pelaku pembunuhan di Aceh. Tapi para janda dan anak yatim di Aceh tak
>bisa memperoleh suami/ayahnya lagi. Pelajaran itu memang sangat mahal,
>bahkan tak ternilai harganya. Kita bisa memaafkan, tapi tak bisa
membalikkan
>putaran waktu.
>
>amat:
>saya memang tidak membantah fakta yang anda katakan. yang saya 'highlite'
>adalah proposisi yang anda majukan dengan menggunakan fakta itu, ie.:
>bahwa pendidikan itu hanya diberikan kepada kelas atas inlander untuk
>melayani kepentingan kolonial; dengan demikian, tetap saja dominasi
>'barat' ['okp'].
>
>yang mau saya katakan dengan pertanyaan dan pernyataan saya sebelumnya
>adalah: pendidikan yang sama, [bukan semacam perguruan tradisional jawa,
>dengan guru, cantrik, manguyu, jejanggannya, misalnya], sekalipun
>berorientasi pada kelas 'menak', jugalah yang berperan dalam mengantar
>nederland indie menjadi indonesia.
>
>Satrio:
>Ini pula yang sudah saya katakan. Pendidikan (Belanda) inilah yang
>membesarkan Soekarno, dan tokoh-tokoh kemerdekaan kita lainnya. (Mungkin
>sama dengan tokoh-tokoh muda prokemerdekaan Tim-Tim yang sempat belajar di
>UGM, Yogya, di Satya Wacana, dll ???)
