Ambiguous system<\/p>\n
After the whirlwind of reform, which grew into an national
\ntornado that toppled Soeharto as head of state and replaced the
\ngovernment with a reform administration, one would expect that
\nfresh air would be blowing in all directions.<\/p>\n
However, as I walk around, I still have to breath in a rather
\nfishy smell of ambiguity. Yogyakarta's Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono
\nX worries that there is only a half-hearted parting with the
\nSoeharto era and we continue to live in a \"pseudo Soeharto era\".<\/p>\n
Perhaps, like myself, the sultan is tormented by the selection
\nof a minister with a murky political past or with the sight of so
\nmany loyalists of the former system in the Cabinet. It is hard to
\nconvince people that members of the new Cabinet are truly and
\nhonestly imbued with the spirit of reform.<\/p>\n
For instance, why should certain Golkar leading figures, who
\nin the past vehemently defended the old system and leadership, so
\neasily jump onto the reform bandwagon, instead of dissolving
\ntheir own ranks and files who have been politically abandoned by
\nthe people.<\/p>\n
The reform movement is essentially a (moral) political
\nmovement and should be addressed first. The present government
\ncarries constitutional legitimacy but it still misses political
\nlegitimacy to carry on governing with the blessing of
\ninternational interests (funding) upon which the economy in the
\nlong run will be highly dependent.<\/p>\n
If we could do without the IMF, we would be better off in
\nterms of total national debt servicing. But who will pay the
\ncurrent government and private debts incurred under the Soeharto
\nera? People need guarantees while the world has lost confidence
\nin the way we manage our resources. It is not easy to escape from
\nthese doldrums.<\/p>\n
The air is still full of ambiguous statements made by people
\nwho officially profess to support the reform movement but cling
\nto old deep-rooted traditions and conspiracies.<\/p>\n
There will, of course, be a general election, and democracy
\nwill be more practiced and guaranteed, such as free press, free
\nspeech and greater freedom to set up political parties. My fear
\nis that the rich and the strong will remain untouched, except for
\na change in skin color and political masks.<\/p>\n
It is imperative that future leaders and their families,
\nespecially those of the president and vice president, avoid
\nluxury and live and think humbly and modestly according to the
\nspirit of Pancasila, the inception of which was commemorated on
\nJune 1. Keep in mind that it is more honorable and worthy to live
\nas a poor leader than as a rich but misleader of a nation.<\/p>\n
GANDHI SUKARDI<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ambiguous-system-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }