Gus Dur's indifference<\/p>\n
From Rakyat Merdeka<\/p>\n
The overseas trip of President Abdurrahman \"Gus Dur\" Wahid and
\nhis entourage comprising more than 90 people is indeed fantastic.
\nIn the midst of the country's chaotic situation, and turbulence
\nin the towns of Sampit and Sampang, Kalimantan, the President
\nleft the country without leaving any message as to how and who
\nwill make decisions in case of an emergency. Does Vice President
\nMegawati have the authority to take the necessary steps to
\naddress particular issues? Actually, there are many national
\nproblems that are left unattended.<\/p>\n
It seems that we no longer have a national administration and
\nall segments of the government, including the ministers and
\ngovernors, have presumably adopted Gus Dur's style of dealing
\nwith social, economic and political problems, i.e. \"why should I
\ncare, leave it to the people, not my business, nothing to worry
\nabout, let the dogs bark\" etc.<\/p>\n
Once I came across a senior member of the Indonesian Military
\nwho was doing a postgraduate program. Upon my asking whether the
\nmilitary sees the current phenomenon prevailing in our country in
\nthe same way as the people do, he replied \"yes\", adding that the
\nmilitary cannot think anything and is not concerned with
\nanything. The military has retreated to its barracks and stays
\nthere quietly, unless the need arises -- such as the whole
\ncountry being engulfed by fire and greed and ruthlessness running
\nrampant -- then the military would rise to defend the country's
\nvirtues and goodness.<\/p>\n
A thought just flashed through my mind: should the country
\nexperience such a great calamity and violent chaos only because
\nwe have mistakenly elected Gus Dur as president? Then, is the
\nmistake incorrigible, so that the people have to endure the
\nhardship for God knows how long? How strange things are!<\/p>\n
INDRAWAN GARCIANO<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/gus-durs-indifference-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }