DATE=8/24/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=INDONESIA / CABINET
NUMBER=2-265812
BYLINE=PATRICIA NUNAN
DATELINE=JAKARTA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid is
drawing vocal criticism for his new cabinet announced
Wednesday. And as Patricia Nunan reports from Jakarta,
there is also growing concern about a rift between the
President and Vice-President Megawati Sukarnoputri.
TEXT: Criticism of President Wahid's new cabinet
line-up began almost immediately after it was
announced. Opposition leader and Speaker of the
National Assembly Amien Rais says it is "regrettable"
that President Wahid has, as he put it, "wasted his
last chance" to steer the government in the right
direction. Local newspaper headlines called the line-
up the president's "big gamble and "a "crony" cabinet
- a reference to complaints that he has filled the
cabinet with his friends.
Much of the criticism is focused on the lack of
representation of officials from the party of Vice-
President Megawati Sukarnoputri, the People's
Democratic Party of Struggle. Only two ministers from
the PDI-P, as it is known, were appointed to the 26-
member cabinet. They will head up the less-influential
Ministry of the Environment and Ministry of
Agriculture.
However the PDI-P won the majority of votes in the
last election and dominates the Indonesian parliament.
The speaker of the parliament, Akbar Tanjung warned
that opposition leaders would have to take action if
the new cabinet performs worse than the previous one.
The long-awaited cabinet reshuffle took place after
President Wahid won reluctant approval of his first 10
months in office from the 700 members of Indonesia's
People's Consultative Assembly -- the highest
legislative body. Its annual session closed last week,
with lawmakers backing off proposals to impeach the
president for what many considered to be his
lackluster performance.
President Wahid's previous cabinet, made up of
officials from various political parties, soon became
divided and ineffective.
But political analyst Wimar Witoelar says the good
news is that the cabinet is united and the ministers
will work with the President.
/// WIMAR WITOELAR ACT ///
But if you visualize this as a football team, at
least they are wearing the same uniform and
facing in the same direction, and with a bit of
luck they can get somewhere.
/// END ACT ///
Economic recovery is a top priority for Mr. Wahid's
administration. Some analysts believe Rizal Ramli, who
filled the new post of economic minister, will be able
to take control of the country's economic ministries.
But there is worry over the amount and quality of
experience the new cabinet officials have under their
belts.
Of particular concern is the new finance minister
Prijadi Praptosuhardjo. He is a long-time friend of
President Wahid. However he failed a competency test
required to head up a state-owned bank.
Conspicuous by her absence at the announcement of the
cabinet line-up was Vice President Megawati
Sukarnoputri. When asked by reporters why she was not
there, President Wahid joked that she had "gone home
to take a shower."
But officials from the PDI-P say that the vice
president is disappointed with the lack of
representation of her party among the newly-appointed
officials. They say that does not bode well for a new
power-sharing arrangement between the president and
Ms. Megawati -- who is now expected to set the new
cabinet's agenda. (signed)
NEB/HK/PN/GC
24-Aug-2000 08:16 AM EDT (24-Aug-2000 1216 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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