Jakarta – A group of influential political figures on Wednesday attended the launch of the Indonesian Awakening Committee to express their concern over the pace of development in the country and what they called the government's short-term political interests.
Rizal Ramli, the committee's founder, said the idea behind the group was to open a new path for the country.
"Our leader's point of view is still influenced by the old regime and foreign countries. This is part of the reason why Indonesia's economic sector has been left behind by other countries," Rizal said. "In addition, democracy has shown little advancement since the 1998 reform movement."
He said the basis for democracy in Indonesia was still largely procedural. "Democracy should be a tool to lift the welfare of Indonesians and improve the country's development, but what's happening now is that democracy only touches the electoral process in Indonesia," said the former minister of finance during Abdurrahman Wahid's administration.
Among those attending Wednesday's event were former People's Consultative Assembly speaker Amien Rais; Hanura People's Conscience Party chairman Gen. (ret) Wiranto; former Golkar Party leader Akbar Tandjung; former vice president Try Sutrisno; chairman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle's advisory council, Taufik Kiemas; former minister for women's empowerment Khofifah Indar Parawangsa; political analysts Yudi Latif and Sukardi Rinakit; economist Dradjad Wibowo; and the secretary-general of the National Awakening Party, Zannuba "Yenny" Arifah Chafsoh Rahman Wahid.
During the event, Amien Rais said this kind of movement was common in a democracy, and could instill a new idealism as long as its activities were appropriate and remained within the law. "This shows that the younger generation can no longer cope with this country's situation, which still stands under foreign shadows," he said.
Amien also warned Rizal that if he wanted to be the country's next president, he must allow the current leaders to finish their terms first.
Rizal denied the launch of the new committee was in any way connected to the 2009 general and presidential elections. "I only want to concentrate on the new program we have first, and try to make this country better," Rizal said.
Wiranto also suggested the committee set clear goals, saying similar movements had been started in the past but quickly disappeared in confusion. "The committee should not only be able to bring changes to Indonesia's system, but to the players in the system as well," Wiranto said.