Shefali Rekhi – Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid might well hold on to power, despite the criticism against him in the wake of the Kalimantan crisis, because the forces opposing him are weak.

"Those who are against Gus Dur don't have support from the major parties, especially from the PDI-P," said Dr Abubakar Eby Hara, a lecturer at East Java's Jember University.

And Golkar cannot decide whether to support him or not, he added. Also, the military was not keen to get involved in politics now, he said. The reason is that a new generation of military leaders is conscious about the need for the armed forces to maintain a good image.

The crisis was an opportunity for Mr Abdurrahman to emerge stronger, he felt, adding that the President should go ahead with a Cabinet reshuffle. He should give more positions to members of the PDI-P and Golkar.

"The important thing for him is to send out a message that he is willing to share power with the other political parties, which he did not do during the last Cabinet reshuffle.

"If he does make the correct decisions, he can stay on till 2004 when the next election is to be held," Dr Abubakar said.