Should foreigners speak out?<\/p>\n
In his article in The Jakarta Post on Oct. 2, 1999: Let
\nIndonesians choose a ruler, Nova Poerwadi responded to an article
\nI wrote about Megawati Soekarnoputri's recent efforts in Newsweek
\nto portray herself as a reform leader. My purpose in writing was
\nnot to vilify Megawati, but to distinguish between her well-
\nestablished status as an opposition figure and her still-
\nundeserved reputation as a reformer. There is a difference.<\/p>\n
So far Megawati has failed to declare herself in favor of
\nprosecuting Soeharto for corruption, or of eliminating the
\nmilitary's dual function or of amending the Constitution. These
\nkey reforms are strongly advocated by Indonesian reform analysts,
\nand the first two reforms have been demanded by a substantial
\npart of the populace. For Megawati not to lay her cards on the
\ntable openly -- transparently -- is a retrograde posture to take
\nat a time when transparency itself is being demanded by greater
\nand greater numbers of Indonesians.<\/p>\n
Unquestioning acceptance of Megawati as a reform figure,
\nlike the automatic refusal to credit President Habibie's
\nreformist presidential actions, are examples of nonconstructive
\npolitical correctness. Mr. Poerwadi's article also states that
\nMegawati's claim to the reformist banner is the fact that Habibie
\nwas very much a part of the Soeharto regime.<\/p>\n
It is a fallacy of logic for Megawati's supporters to base her
\ncredentials as a reformer on the status quo identity of others.
\nThis type of illogic should cause Indonesians to examine the
\nIndonesian Democratic Party of Struggle's (PDI Perjuangan)
\npolitical ideals and plans and their readiness to lead a modern
\ngovernment. The chief point of Mr. Poerwadi's article seems to be
\nhis general objection to foreigners who express opinions on
\nIndonesian politics. His objection seems based on an assumption
\nthat foreigners speak from a superficial knowledge of Indonesian
\nsociety and politics based on news clippings and sound bytes.<\/p>\n
Some foreigners may draw broad conclusions about Indonesian
\npolitics based on superficial data, just as Mr. Poerwadi has
\ndrawn a broad conclusion about foreigners. But there are others
\nwho try to become better informed by turning to Indonesian
\ninformation sources beyond the news briefs and sound bytes. Mr.
\nPoerwadi would, it appears, relegate us to a role of silence. Is
\nthis valid?<\/p>\n
Must persons who live and conduct their economic lives
\nsomewhere other than their home countries refrain from exercising
\ntheir mental or moral faculties or their voices? Expatriates come
\nto Indonesia for a variety of reasons: some were sent here by our
\nemployers; some made investments here; some came as travelers but
\nloved the land and decided to stay and may have families here
\nnow. We are not Indonesian citizens but we live here sometimes
\nfor a year or two, sometimes for ten or fifteen years or longer.
\nIndonesia becomes our adopted home.<\/p>\n
When we come here, we arrive body and soul. We don't leave our
\nintellects, our imaginations, our energies, our ethical
\nprinciples at home. If we do, dishonest silence in the face of
\nblatant misconduct results in travesties of truth like the World
\nBank's long idealization of Soeharto's crimes.<\/p>\n
Countries will host more and more expatriate residents in the
\ncoming years of globalization, and the issue of expatriate
\nengagement in local issues may become more acute. Developing
\ncountries should be looking not for expatriate robots, but for
\nthinking human beings. Yes, our status as guests calls for
\nsensitivity. But silence? I don't believe so.<\/p>\n
DONNA K. WOODWARD<\/p>\n
Medan, North Sumatra<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/should-foreigners-speak-out-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }