DATE=8/23/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=INDONESIA / CABINET SHAKE-UP - L
NUMBER=2-265779
BYLINE=PATRICIA NUNAN
DATELINE=JAKARTA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid has
announced his new cabinet line-up -- one that he hopes
will help him pull Indonesia out of its
economic slump and deal with separatist and religious
violence in outlying provinces. VOA's Patricia Nunan
has the details.
TEXT: President Wahid has pared his cabinet back from
35 ministers to just 26. At the top of the line-up are
two powerful coordinating ministers - one for the
economy and one for political and security issues.
Rizal Ramli - a reformist and anti-corruption
campaigner - will be Coordinating Minister for the
Economy and retired General Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
the Coordinating Minister for Political and Security
Affairs.
The pair will be expected to assist Indonesian Vice
President Megawati Sukarnoputri, whom President Wahid
charged last week with taking over much of the day-to-
day tasks of running the government.
Significantly, the military will remain in civilian
hands, with a college professor heading the defense
ministry. But the key ministries dealing with
telecommunications and industry, will go to three
former army generals - despite calls for an end to the
military's role in government.
President Wahid dumped his previous cabinet after just
10 months because it was divided by factionalism.
Critics say that the divided loyalties of that cabinet
-- made up of officials from across Indonesia's
political spectrum -- led to Indonesia's continued
economic slump.
But in announcing his new cabinet, President Wahid
said the media is partly to blame for the perception
that his previous administration was not effective.
/// WAHID ACT ///
Disunity is caused by two things -- first that
the media makes them as though they are
quarrelling, when in fact no -- we had very
fruitful discussions.
/// END ACT ///
President Wahid also indicated that with this new
cabinet, tighter control will be exercised over
comments to the public about the cabinet's work.
/// WAHID ACT TWO ///
Second thing is that some ministers speak
outspokenly. So I think now we have two
coordinating ministers that will take things
into charge and the vice president to oversee
that they do not talk freely to the press like
before, but in a measured way.
/// END ACT ///
/// OPT /// Vice President Megawati Sukarnoputri was
not present at the announcement. One of the duties the
president assigned her was to explain to the public
some of the government's policies. Her custom of
shying away from public appearances has fueled
criticism that she is not a qualified leader. /// END
OPT ///
Last week President Wahid promised he would revamp his
cabinet in response to a storm of criticism from
lawmakers at the annual meeting of the People's
Consultative Assembly -- Indonesia's highest
legislative body.
Seventeen of the new ministers are holdovers from the
previous cabinet. They include Foreign Minister Alwi
Shihab and Attorney General Marzuki Darusman. (signed)
NEB/HK/PN/JO/FC
23-Aug-2000 09:33 AM EDT (23-Aug-2000 1333 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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