Golkar's arrogance<\/p>\n
From Merdeka<\/p>\n
Observing the recent polemics, particularly Sarwono
\nKusumaatmadja's comments in Merdeka on Nov. 5, 1998, on a
\ndifference of opinion between Marzuki Darusman and Akbar
\nTandjung, chairman of Golkar, I would like to express the
\nfollowing opinions:<\/p>\n
1. I fully agree with Pak Sarwono and company, and I would also
\nlike to take my hat off to Marzuki Darusman for being able to
\naccommodate popular aspirations. At the same time, I deplore the
\nattitude assumed by Bung Akbar and company for being arrogant and
\nunresponsive to social dynamism.<\/p>\n
2. Deep in my heart an idea strikes me why Golkar, which was the
\ndominant power during the New Order era, an era which threatened
\nthe nation with disintegration and has thrown the people into
\npoverty and made them faithless, has refused to apologize: there
\nmay be fear among Golkar officials that offering an apology will
\nmean being held accountable before a people's tribunal for all
\nthe sins committed by Golkar. They fear that if this happens,
\npeople will dislike Golkar, and they will end up losing all the
\nsympathy of the people.<\/p>\n
3. Golkar should actually realize that it has committed all these
\nsins, and that in six general elections, regardless of whether or
\nnot they were held honestly, fairly and transparently, they were
\nable to win the majority of the votes thanks to the support of
\nthe government bureaucracy and the Armed Forces. In the future,
\nfor the sake of true democracy, the Armed Forces and the
\ngovernment bureaucracy, i.e. the civil servants corps, have
\nannounced their impartiality. In the meantime, most people may
\nnever be able to forgive Golkar for the national tragedies still
\nfresh in our minds.<\/p>\n
4. There are many examples showing that the concept of a single
\nmajority is highly prone to disintegration, the former Soviet
\nUnion and Yugoslavia are two examples, and is not in tune with
\nthe principle of Bhinneka Tunggal Ika (Unity in Diversity).
\nUnfortunately, these examples cannot easily make all of us aware
\nof the danger of adopting such a concept, because many of our
\nleaders are arrogant, indifferent and hypocritical.<\/p>\n
Congratulations to Pak Marzuki and company and Pak Sarwono and
\ncompany. Finally allow me to ask all of our leaders one question:
\nWhat is this life for unless it is devoted to religious services
\nand to serving as a caliph?<\/p>\n
E. ROOSDIAWAN<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/golkars-arrogance-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }