Expert hails officials' biographies<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Government officials promoting their memoirs
\nreflect the desire to establish a favorable image of themselves
\nin the political landscape and the public eye, an Australian
\nprofessor said yesterday.<\/p>\n
Richard Freadman from the La Trobe University School of
\nEnglish said that Indonesian figures are attempting to establish
\na foothold for posterity in a rapidly changing environment.<\/p>\n
\"Such attempts can be successful if a particular official has
\nindeed initiated significant changes for Indonesia,\" he said
\nafter a discussion held by the University of Indonesia's American
\nStudies Program.<\/p>\n
\"Otherwise, their survival prospects to establish a preferred
\nimage decline after their deaths. This is natural,\" he said.<\/p>\n
However, \"they can re-emerge when social attitudes and
\nintellectual fashions change,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Freadman, who had studied Indonesia for some years, was
\ncommenting on the recent flourishing of biographies and memoirs
\nlaunched by both active and retired senior government officials.<\/p>\n
He said that dramatic changes, namely rising democracy and
\npeople's more critical outlook, would also alter people's
\nperception of officials.<\/p>\n
He cited the biographies of American president John F. Kennedy
\nas an example. Kennedy was much admired during his lifetime but
\npublic attention became more critical after his death following
\nthe disclosure about his political ambitions, attitude toward
\nwomen and the Cuban missile crisis.<\/p>\n
Freadman said these reassessments emerged because of more
\ninformation and changing social attitudes.<\/p>\n
Biographies recently launched here include those by former
\nvice president Sudharmono, who was in office from 1988 and 1992,
\nwith two books titled Sudharmono SH. Pengalaman dalam Masa
\nPengabdian (Sudharmono SH. Experiences of Service ) and Kesan dan
\nKenangan dari Teman, 70 Tahun Sudharmono (Friends' Views,
\nSudharmono SH Turns 70).<\/p>\n
The writer Motinggo Busye recently launched a biography called
\nHarmoko dan Golkar (Harmoko and Golkar) to commemorate the 58th
\nbirthday on Feb. 7 of Minister of Information Harmoko.<\/p>\n
This marks the second book for Harmoko, also Golkar chairman.
\nThe first one was published in 1989 with the title 50 Tahun
\nHarmoko: Menatap dengan Mata dan Hati Rakyat (Harmoko at 50: A
\nlook into the people's eyes and heart) to celebrate his 50th
\nbirthday. (01)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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