Bulls gather in Bali<\/p>\n
It was agonizingly close to the 11th hour, so to speak, that
\nthe Mother of all Bulls (bull being the symbol of the splintered
\nIndonesian Democratic Party) was permitted to speak to her off-
\nspring in a congress in Bali recently. In contrast, the
\ngovernment favored domesticated bulls of the Soerjadi species,
\nusually got their license presented on a silver tray, and some
\nvitamins to cover expenses.<\/p>\n
The Mega bulls were repeatedly warned that if they disturbed
\nthe island paradise's tranquility or wake up foreign tourists
\nduring their siesta, one of their leaders would spend some nights
\nin jail, free of charge.<\/p>\n
Inexplicably, nobody broke his neck and bills had been paid
\nfor. Cabinet ministers tensely waited for a bomb to explode,
\nInstead, the Mega bulls emerged strengthened and with greater
\nself-confidence in facing the coming general election. But time
\nis not on their side. There is no more need for slogans and
\nbattle cries. Enemies are lurking everywhere. The Mega bulls must
\nimmediately announce a shadow Cabinet of some kind in coalition
\nif necessary with other contestants. They must announce their
\naction program. Remember that the stomach cannot wait, the
\neconomy cannot wait, the foreign debts cannot wait, the sick and
\nthe unemployed cannot wait. Only criminals of corruption,
\ncollusion and nepotism (KKN) can wait indefinitely. Legality can
\nwait but democracy cannot wait.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, nobody found it surprising that the honor of the
\npresence of the head of state to open the congress fell on the
\ntwo-footed arrow bearers affiliated to the Indonesian Journalists
\nAssociation (PWI) in Semarang instead of on the two-horned bulls
\nin Bali.<\/p>\n
The journalists emerged from their congress more closely
\nknitted to the establishment. They overlook the fact that their
\ngreatest asset is their independent minds with strings attached
\nto the power bearers. Ideally, their independency should only
\nserve the interests of their organization. Morally they should
\nonly be loyal to their profession; the pursuit of the naked
\ntruth. No self-respecting journalist should still want to serve
\nin a legislative council if he or she is appointed by the regime
\nand not elected by the people. Such an act belongs to the
\nprereform era.<\/p>\n
Do we witness here an all-out attempt by the once mighty G-
\nmachinery (of course you know what I mean) to mobilize its
\nremaining forces, including journalists who only halfheartedly
\nsupported the reformist movement and have succumbed to the
\nbeckoning of power and wealth? Perhaps only a senior journalist
\nlike Rosihan Anwar, known for his sharp nose and sharp tongue
\ncould give an answer.<\/p>\n
Once a Dutch anthropologist called the people of Indonesia the
\nmost tolerant on Earth (Het zachste volk der aarde). Today we may
\ntop the list of being one of the most intolerant democracies on
\nthis planet. In my inexperience, I had hoped that the new
\nfunctional group (Golkar) would change in spirit, repent for its
\nmistakes and feel guilty for the nation's miseries, as the
\nstudent reformist movement also expected to nimbly and nobly act
\nas facilitator for other parties to achieve the maximum instead
\nof justifying all means to stage a comeback. Personally, I doubt
\nif Heaven will allow Golkar to take part in the next elections.<\/p>\n
GANDHI SUKARDI<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/bulls-gather-in-bali-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }