LAKSAMANA.Net, July 1, 2004 11:50 PM
Battle of the Generals
Laksamana.Net - Three generals dominated the second dialog between presidential
and vice presidential candidates on national television Thursday (1/7/04), adopting
markedly different styles and approaches but little essential difference in policy.
Wiranto pulled the only blockbuster of the night, affirming his earlier promise to only
stand for a single term in order to be able to concentrate fully on development without
any concern over seeking re-election.
Left behind in the process was incumbent Vice President Hamzah Haz, who did little
more than mouth stale slogans, except for looking meek when he was asked one
question on the status and protection of women. Haz is frequently criticized for having
three wives, one of whom he has not acknowledged in public.
Moderator Ira Koesno again ran a tight ship on timing, throwing the ball first to Haz for
an opening statement. Poorly prepared, he failed to impress, leaving Susilo Bambang
Yudhoyono and Wiranto to present their views.
Of these two former generals, Yudhoyono presented a formal approach outlining his
general policy while Wiranto adopted a more familiar tone, referring to his travels
across the country.
On programs, there was little difference between the candidates. They all promised
better respect for the law, job creation, honest government and better welfare. Wiranto
appealed for improvements in the national moral fiber that could take Indonesia to a
better place in the international community.
Wiranto received little support from his ageing running mate Solahuddin Wahid. Haz,
on the other hand, was ably backed by the third general, Agum Gumelar, who showed
a real politician’s touch. Jusuf Kalla was forceful in support of Yudhoyono.
There were fewer election promises than in the previous night’s dialog between
Megawati Sukarnoputri and her running mate Hashim Muzadi and Amien Rais and
Siswono Yudohusodo.
Instead, candidates concentrated on general issues of economic growth and
improvements in welfare.
While the two dialogs shone little new light on exactly what the candidates would do if
elected, the events organized by the General Election Commission (KPU) represented
a major step forward in political openness and public political education.
Questions
Moving into question time, Haz blew his first opportunity to shine when he wasted the
time for his reply to a question of corruption with a stale repetition of former policies.
Gumelar smiled smugly as Ira Koesno called time.
Yudhoyono said his government would spend its first 100 days in a complete review of
the problems facing Indonesia, including a review of activities of the Attorney
General’s Office.
Wiranto took the philosophic high ground. “We do not only have to punish corruptors
that exist today but we also have to create a new spirit so that people do not want to
become corruptors in the future,” he said.
Agum Gumelar also promised a study of corruption in the first 100 days in power but,
he added, political will at the executive level was not enough in itself. “We also need
managers in the field who can create a transformation.”
The next question centered on how to improve general welfare and workers’
conditions. Yudhoyono was first to field this one, stating that his government would
increase jobs and boost productivity. “We need to improve the buying power of
workers so that we can work to solve both these problems together,” he said.
Wiranto said boldness was required to find the best way to solve the problems.
Wages could not be raised unless more work was created. Solahuddin Wahid
followed up by stating that new investment was essential and conditions had to be
conducive, adding that the government would also seek solutions in agriculture and
other areas that made use of appropriate technology.
Hamzah Haz said the productivity of workers had to be improved and the infrastructure
for investment had to be boosted. “If the real economy gets moving, we will be able to
press development, including through small and medium enterprises.”
The questions then turned to civil supremacy. All the candidates guaranteed civilian
government, with the military under the control of the Ministry of Defense. Yudhoyono
added that the government should not interfere in the military’s organizational affairs.
Gumelar was most impressive in facing this issue. “Much has changed in this
country,” he said. “This is a fluid society and we have to accept the changes that it
demands.”
A question on the value of culture created little comment. Wiranto said Indonesia had
to guard against the invasion of inappropriate cultures. Solahuddin Wahid called for
the creation of a rational and culturally conservative society. Gumelar said Indonesia
required policies that respected the basic values of human life.
Then came Haz’ turn to blush with the question on the position of women.
Yudhoyono was given first response, saying protection must be properly implemented
at the same time that policies were developed to enhance their role. Jusuf Kalla noted
that equality of education was an important factor in improving the role of women but
said bluntly “we not want women to develop as in America, but in line with our
religion and culture”.
Solahuddin Wahid called for special units within the police and immigration to stop
human trafficking while Haz could only comment that empowerment was needed to
improve women’s position.
Back to business, on resource development and tourism, Wiranto pointed to
enormous resources, especially in the east, that were ready for development. He
raised laughter when he said that the most important thing for tourists “was to be
able to go home the same way they came – alive – and with their money spent on a
good time and not lost to a robber”.
Hamzah Haz said the agricultural and maritime industries were the key to
Indonesia’s future development. Education had to be improved to boost abilities.
Yudhoyono said there was still great potential in oil and gas and much potential for
value added industries.
Asked their opinion on the need to retain territorial military units, there was agreement
that the units acted as efficient early warning signals if trouble arose within
communities. There was a consensus that the units should be maintained, although
Wiranto added that they had to be kept out of politics. Yudhoyono said the form of the
national defense system was not so important as long as the job was done properly.
Hand outs
On protection of the poor from evictions, Jusuf Kalla said the next government should
enforce rules that housing developers provide space for low-cost housing units and big
businesses should help small ones to develop. Haz said the quality of informal sector
workers should be improved and they should be given loans to help them to adapt.
Yudhoyono described the problem as a complex dilemma. “The government has a
mandate to create an orderly and structured society but people create their livelihoods
as they can. We need to find a way in which we can achieve the goal of a structured
society in a way that does not hurt the poor,” he said. Solahuddin Wahid wanted to
hand out land to the poor.
After there was general agreement on the need to retain the death penalty, particularly
for narcotics smuggling, the debate moved on to how to attract foreign investment.
Again, there was general agreement that conditions had to be conducive.
Hamzah Haz again pointed to the agricultural and maritime sectors, Yudhoyono said
conditions had to be right so that investment would produce a return. Wahid
commented that national public relations needed a boost while Gumelar showed a
politician’s skill for turning a slogan when he said that “today must be better than
yesterday, tomorrow must be better than today”. Wiranto admitted that the road
ahead would not be easy. Wahid intoned that “a leader who does not help his people
will not enter heaven”.
SMS polls from viewers produced a mixed response. On ANteve, Yudhoyono and
Kalla were the front runners with 59% followed by Wiranto and Wahid on 35%. TV7
saw a much more even vote, with Yudhoyono and Kalla at 50% and Wiranto and
Wahid on 47%. Hamzah Haz and Agum Gumelar took the crumbs.
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