Presidential nomination of Mega<\/p>\n
Mr. Huub Neys (The Jakarta Post, July 22, 1999) from
\nMaastricht, the Netherlands, reacted to my views in this column
\ninstead of telephoning me in Amsterdam. He says he dreams about
\nIndonesia and wants to help these dreams come true.<\/p>\n
Psychiatrist Bruno Bettelheim wrote various books about fairy
\ntales never coming true. Freud's Interpretation of dreams
\noriginated from studies in hysteria. I do not know in what
\ncapacity Mr. Neys worked or traveled in Indonesia. I did so since
\n1956 as a journalist. I am not in the business of promoting fairy
\ntales nor dreams. The shocking reality is: Indonesia needs
\ndesperately to transcend from military dictatorship toward a land
\nof democracy and freedom. Dreaming won't help. This is dead
\nserious business.<\/p>\n
Mr. Neys compared Indonesia with the Philippines, which to me
\nis like comparing the banteng (bull) with the bird that picks its
\nback. Comparing a presidential flop like Ronald Reagan with
\nMegawati further weakens Neys' arguments. Megawati and her team
\nof professional advisors would make more sense than Reagan could
\never produce. But is it enough? There is periculum in mora for
\nIndonesia. The nation is sick and needs a cure: yes. But too
\noften the cure is worse than the disease. A trustworthy,
\ncharming, sincere or well meaning symbol, which Megawati is,
\nwould not cure this particular patient at this juncture.
\nActually, there is no antibiotic available on the market that
\nwould remove the present infection instantly, including the
\nrampant corruption that Mr. Neys mentions.<\/p>\n
How can anyone assume, in 1999, as Mr. Neys does, that an aura
\nof honesty, determination to see justice done, around Megawati,
\nwould do the trick of curing Indonesia instantly of all its ills,
\nincluding corruption, lying and stealing by those in position of
\npower? If Megawati could become a queen, it would be the ideal
\nsolution, but the 1945 Constitution does not allow it.<\/p>\n
During the entire 20th century, the Netherlands had three
\nwomen symbols on the throne: Wihelmina, Juliana and Beatrix. It's
\ncollective madness, a queen in the nuclear age, but it works.
\nEngland and the Netherlands are the last nations where once a
\nyear a golden carriage appears a la Walt Disney in the streets.<\/p>\n
As long as people take it seriously, why not, it does no harm.
\nMegawati could join Elizabeth II and Beatrix and purchase a
\ngolden carriage for that symbolic function. In the meantime, if
\nthe presidents of France or Germany ventured out of the palace in
\na carriage drawn by eight horses, the emergency unit of the
\nnearest madhouse would appear to look them up. Symbolic functions
\nenjoy many disguises.<\/p>\n
But Indonesia in 1999 is not in dire need of a national symbol
\nas much as a strong hand capable of guiding the nation toward a
\ntruly democratic state. Alone Megawati's hand is not strong
\nenough. Perhaps there is no other way than aligning herself with
\nGen. Wiranto, but then the $64,000 question is: Will the people
\nunderstand? Maybe Wiranto learned from inside the system, where
\nit went wrong. Together Megawati and Wiranto could preserve Bung
\nKarno's unitary state, and outsmart the enemies who are waiting
\nto see Sukarno's dream fall apart.<\/p>\n
WILLEM OLTMANS<\/p>\n
Amsterdam<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/presidential-nomination-of-mega-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }