Habibie, 01-29-2008
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“Habibie on Democracy…and Habibie” A Special Event with H.E. B.J. Habibie Former President of Indonesia January 29, 2008 In March of 1998 B.J. Habibie, a political system to pave the way for the scientist educated in Germany with a best elections – in 1999—since 1955. distinguished career in his field and 20 years as a protégé with ministerial rank All this was done in a way no one had in President Suharto’s cabinets, was anticipated. He might be called the elected vice president of Indonesia by “Accidental President,” since no one the People’s Consultative Assembly believed that Suharto ever intended to be (MPR). Two months later, as succeeded by Habibie. If Sukarno was Indonesia’s economic crisis deepened the Father of Independence and Suharto and calls for Suharto’s resignation the Father of Development, Habibie mounted, the president precipitously might claim the title Father of resigned on May 21. Habibie was sworn Democracy. in as president. He served until October 20, 1999, when he declined to run for Former President B.J. Habibie was in president in the 1999 elections after his fine form as he addressed a USINDO accountability speech to the Assembly audience in Washington DC on was rejected by 51% of the vote. Indonesian democracy and U.S.- Indonesian relations on January 29 – and During his short tenure, he dismantled added revealing remarks about his brief the authoritarian regime set up by the time in history’s limelight. Those who two previous presidents. He knew him in the days when he was a immediately freed political prisoners, minister in President Suharto’s cabinet removed restrictions on the press and may have wondered if the years since he made the state Bank Indonesia stepped down as president in 1999 have independent of government. mellowed him, or whether he is still his Subsequently he set in motion the ebullient, irrepressible self. withdrawal of Indonesia from East Timor, instituted the largest He has mellowed indeed but he still decentralization of government arguably presented a moving target as he glided in world history, and opened up the around the speaker’s platform, winding www.usindo.org - 1 - Habibie, 1-29-2008 PDF Created with deskPDF PDF Writer - Trial :: http://www.docudesk.com up eventually with a hand mike and a Indonesia is the cornerstone of the laser pointer as he turned alternately to a region. Indonesia’s success in political power point big-screen presentation reforms presents a role model for behind him and then toward the developing countries. Indonesia’s audience. strategic location along international maritime straits is key. Indonesia is He spoke as the professor in his portfolio proactive in the war against terrorism, he of titles, and his topic was Democracy said. ”There are convergent political 101. He pointed out commonalities and security interests between Indonesia between the Indonesian and the U.S. and the United States.” constitutions, values, size, diversity and a common history of having been Indonesia must contribute to peace and colonized. Both countries value stability in Southeast Asia, he added, as freedom and independence, but these are it says in its Constitution that Indonesia not sufficient conditions to ensure their seeks to “establish world order based on endurance. Education, communication freedom, sustainable peace and social and economic development are also justice.” necessary for a healthy politic. Indonesia declared independence in He illustrated by citing the decision he 1945 but it could not ensure freedom for made to offer a referendum to the people its people as they lacked education, of East Timor to accept or reject communication etc. having, like the autonomy within the Indonesian nation. United States, suffered under The voters overwhelmingly (78%) colonization. rejected the offer. The offer startled and alarmed politicians of all persuasions Indonesian-U.S. Relations and the results outraged nationalists, becoming a major criticism of his tenure. From earliest trading ties with Aceh in Why did he do it? the nineteenth century, the U.S. has had an increasing relationship with “We had a lot of work to do on Indonesia. It supported Indonesian democracy,” Habibie said. “I was not efforts to secure recognition of its going to be distracted by this problem. independence in the 1945-49 period and That’s the only reason.” In his recently- was a partner with Indonesia in the anti- published book, Decisive Moments, Communist movement during the Cold Habibie says that Indonesia’s annexation War. of East Timor, although necessitated by deteriorating conditions in the former A stable, strong Indonesia is important Portuguese colony, was not recognized for U.S. interests in a secure and by the international community and was democratic world, he said. “If Indonesia a detriment to Indonesia’s international had descended into chaos in 1998 [after standing. the economic crisis and the resignation of President Suharto] would it have led However, he continued, binational to a world crisis?” he asked. relations are also influenced by occurrences elsewhere in the world. Indonesian perceptions of the U.S. have www.usindo.org - 2 - Habibie, 1-29-2008 PDF Created with deskPDF PDF Writer - Trial :: http://www.docudesk.com been shaped by the U.S policies in the interview with Suharto. He was notified, Middle East, especially those toward later the same evening, that Suharto Israel and Palestine, and by the U.S. would resign the next morning, not on invasion of Iraq. May 23 as he had earlier said.. At 10 a.m. on May 21, Suharto did resign and Q: A man in the shadow suddenly Habibie was sworn in as president by the achieves extraordinary Chief Justice. (Both men had been accomplishments, comparable to the informed before their meeting on May “100 Days” of FDR. It was a pivotal 20 that 14 ministers in the existing period in Indonesian history and you cabinet were refusing to serve in a were the pivot. What was in your Reform Cabinet.) mind? How did you make it happen? I was president and vice president and A: There were two men in power in had control of the legislature through my May 1998. The elected president and position in Golkar. The power was the separately elected Executive mine, to use or misuse. I used it. I had Coordinator of the Keluarga Besar 25 years experience in Suharto’s Golkar. I was the Coordinator, government, and shared the heritage of appointed by Golkar, not the President. 53 years’ tradition that the president is This appointment was unexpected. We like a God. I had to change it, now or two men were of equal standing in never. The president should be like your naming a cabinet. I was the first neighbor. One of the reasons I could do coordinator, in 1998, who was not a that was because of my values. I had a military man or a politician. I never Western education, I am a scientist, and considered myself a politician. my reason and common sense told me what was right. In his book, Habibie says that he met with President Suharto on Wednesday My first action was to separate Bank May 20, 1998 to thrash out the names in Indonesia from the government. On a Reform Cabinet that the President May 22, the day after I was sworn in as hoped would allay the demands that he president, I named my cabinet and step down. They had a “lively announced that the head of Bank discussion,” Habibie writes, perhaps Indonesia would not be included. The abstaining from a stronger description of former status of BI as subordinate to the their encounter. Suharto called in the president was the original source of State Secretary to announce that the corruption. The ’45 Generation could not Reform Cabinet would be named the change this. This had to come from the next day, May 21, and be sworn in on Transitional Generation. May 22. Suharto then informed Habibie he would himself resign after the Reform I have not seen Suharto since he stepped Cabinet was installed. Startled, Habibie down. He refused to see me. On writes that he asked “What is my January 14 I flew from Frankfurt to position as Vice President?” “What Jakarta to pray for the president as he lay happens, happens,” the president in hospital. I was informed ‘he doesn’t responded, and dismissed Habibie. want to see you.’ (He was in a coma by Habibie never was permitted another this time, but the family was present in www.usindo.org - 3 - Habibie, 1-29-2008 PDF Created with deskPDF PDF Writer - Trial :: http://www.docudesk.com the hospital and sent the message.) I If 51% of the MPR had accepted my don’t care, I said. I will pray for him. I accountability speech, I was available to flew back to Frankfurt on the next be a candidate for election as president. available flight. If 51% rejected my account, I was not available. The vote was 51% against Q: Why don’t the Indonesian elite me. It’s a democracy, after all. realize that the U.S. is not anti-Islam? We helped Kuwait and Kosovo, My point was, in a democratic society supporting Islamic populations in there should be a minimum of two those areas. people contesting to take over. I approached Amien Rais, Akbar Tanjung, A: In democratic societies we have to Wiranto and Hamzah Haz, in that order, live with freedom of the press. asking if they were available. In the end they told me they had collectively Q: You supported Wiranto and decided to support Gus Dur. Akbar Tanjung as potential presidential candidates in the deliberations surrounding the vote on accepting your accountability speech, but both declined to support you, in the end turning to support Abdurrahim Wahid (Gus Dur) as their candidate.