Predicting next VP<\/p>\n
In the Merdeka of March 11, 1996, I read a very interesting
\nprediction by a noted Australian military observer, Mr. Harold
\nCrouch, about the next vice president of Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Mr. Crouch predicted that the present Army chief, Gen.
\nHartono, is being groomed for the position of vice president. His
\nprediction is based on the fact that in the very near future, the
\nchiefs of the Navy, Air Force and police are going to be
\nreplaced. Gen. Hartono will not be replaced because has the
\nconfidence of the President.<\/p>\n
When asked about Gen. Feisal Tanjung, who according to rumors
\nwill stay on as Armed Forces chief, Crouch's answer was not very
\nclear. If we follow Crouch's way of thinking then Gen. Feisal has
\nas much chance as Gen. Hartono for the number two post, because
\nhe also has the confidence of the President.<\/p>\n
My forecast has a weak foundation, as weak as that of Crouch.
\nIn my humble opinion, the President is really the father of the
\nnation and he will always act as fair as possible. Based on this,
\nmy prediction is that the next VP will come from non-Javanese
\nethnic groups. His first VP was Javanese (Sri Sultan), the second
\nfrom Sumatra (Adam Malik), the third from Java once again Umar
\nWirahadikusumah). The next candidate should have been from
\noutside Java, for instance, maybe a general from Sulawesi.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, it seems there was unwelcome intervention from
\noutside, proposing that the President take a certain general for
\nhis second man. The President was not happy because he did not
\nask for advice about the VP, certainly not from an outsider. The
\nsecond man must be his choice and as a consequence the rotation
\nwent wrong.<\/p>\n
In the beginning the position of Army chief followed the same
\npattern. The position used to be held from candidates from
\nSiliwangi, Diponegoro, Brawijaya and then back again. But
\nsomewhere in the middle it went wrong and I do not know how it
\nwill be next time. But why waste our efforts in such predictions?
\nThere are many so real topics to be discussed, like how to
\nimprove the working system of the government, how to minimize
\ncorruption, how to abolish illegal levies, etc. Our President is
\na man with a strong will, although he is a democrat, nobody can
\ntell him what to do or whom to chose for such an important
\nposition, where cooperation and understanding is of the utmost
\nimportance.<\/p>\n
Unnecessary predictions will only invite reaction and counter-
\nreaction and none of us are in a position to make decisions. So
\nlet us guide our attention at this moment to more practical
\nproblem solving activities, which will create the right
\ndemocratic atmosphere for the next election.<\/p>\n
SOEGIH ARTO<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/predicting-next-vp-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }