Riddles solved<\/p>\n
As I stared at the harbor lights -- the stars were invisible
\n-- moments before the world entered 1999 -- I believed I had the
\nanswers to some of the riddles confronting the nation today.<\/p>\n
First, there is the hunt for the treasures of former president
\nSoeharto. It has, according to prediction, slowed down and been
\ndistracted by other issues and minor personalities.<\/p>\n
The antireform current has become so strong and tangible that
\nit has caused an influential leader like Abdurrahman Wahid to
\nventure out and call for a national dialog involving the former
\npresident himself, who should have stood trial long ago.<\/p>\n
Influential reform leader Amien Rais has likened the process
\nto a soap opera. He seems to be suspicious that Abdurrahman Wahid
\nis offering a truce.<\/p>\n
Of course, in that case, the reform movement may react
\nstrongly in protest. Abdurrahman Wahid, is sensing that the
\nantireform camp is targeting his followers as its victims, as in
\nthe case of the Banyuwangi murders, and he wants to make an end
\nto it all by a quick means and with some speculation.<\/p>\n
Still, he should not ignore other forces, like the Amien Rais
\nor Megawati Soekarnoputri camps or the National Front or Ali
\nSadikin groups.<\/p>\n
I suspect that "the other side" will also get suspicious as to
\nthe real motives of Abdurrahman Wahid's maneuvers. Hence, its
\nreflection by Habibie, another national riddle has become more
\nopenly available for guesswork. The one or ones among Functional
\nGroup's (Golkar's) ranks, or the incumbent, who are eying the
\ncountry's top positions. So far, all the preparations in that
\ndirection, such as campaigning and vote gathering activities,
\nhave been done in silence if not in secret.<\/p>\n
A Golkar leading figure has indicated that President Habibie
\nmay opt for reelection, something that has been officially out of
\nthe question since his main mission should be just to guide the
\nnation or political parties, not himself, to the general
\nelection. He seems to like his present job, and plans to continue
\nhis service to the nation by increasing the salaries of
\ngovernment employees. Facing the nation in 1999 are economic and
\npolitical issues which both deserve priority, while the one
\nsolution depends on the other for lasting effects.<\/p>\n
Unless a truly democratic government is elected, the
\ninternational community will be reluctant to risk investments in
\ndevelopment projects with long-term yields. The economy cannot be
\nordered to stop until the elections are over. The stomach of the
\npoor and the habits of the rich cannot wait.<\/p>\n
Therefore, the moral and political duty of this interim
\nadministration should be that factories keep producing and export
\nkeep flowing. How tragic indeed, that after 50 years of
\nindependence, there are more people unemployed, more getting
\nhungry, more school children dropping out, more people getting
\nconfused and brutal while corruption persists. I have the
\nimpression that everyone and every group is still trying to fish
\nin murky waters. Of course -- as you guessed correctly -- except
\nfor the students, who still plead for democracy and justice and
\nhuman rights on behalf of the people's conscience, unselfish and
\nundaunted.<\/p>\n
The year 1999 may see the resurrection of their true spirit
\nand idealism displayed again before the eyes of the cameras.<\/p>\n
GANDHI SUKARDI<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/riddles-solved-1447899208", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }