The emperor is sick<\/p>\n
The strongman former president Soeharto has been often likened
\nto an emperor with absolute power. Although he has been reported
\na number of times as being very sick and was rushed recently to
\nthe hospital for an appendectomy, he is a free man.<\/p>\n
He is no longer confined to his bed, to his house, to his
\ncity, or to the country for that matter. His case before the
\ncourt has almost been forgotten. He might even try putting if
\nonly his loyal friend (Bob Hasan) would lend him a golf club.<\/p>\n
He might also be congratulated that his famous son, Tommy, has
\nnot been discovered in his hiding place. Perhaps the emperor
\nknows where the fugitive is now.<\/p>\n
Interestingly, Soeharto's children are gradually coming to
\ncenter stage, one by one. There is no need to mention their
\nnames. But, like their father, they have to prove that they are
\ninnocent in whatever shady dealings at the detriment of the
\nstate. Somehow, I have a hunch they will escape the dragnet of
\njustice.<\/p>\n
Pretending to be sick is a ploy that may only be used by an
\nimportant player in history, like masseur Suwondo, who suddenly
\nhad to undergo heart surgery. Of course, he will be too sick,
\nwith a doctor's note, to sit in his chair before the court.<\/p>\n
The former absolute ruler should also be happy that the cries
\nto find his allegedly illegally accumulated wealth stashed in
\nforeign banks have practically died down. The public's attention
\ndepends to a great extent on how the media react to the latest
\nissue, which is now white book versus memorandum.<\/p>\n
Or it may be about the proposal by the Supreme Advisory
\nCouncil that President Abdurrahman \"Gus Dur\" Wahid be made
\ntemporarily nonactive and that Megawati become the de facto
\npresident of the country, while Gus Dur is on sick leave. But the
\ncleric President has sneered at the idea.<\/p>\n
What is evident now is that the influence of the New Order
\n(Soeharto's era) is more tangible than ever, given that some
\npeople are connecting President Abdurrahman Wahid with the New
\nOrder, as he once served as a member of the People's Consultative
\nAssembly, appointed by the Soeharto administration.<\/p>\n
Does Soeharto still think of the fate of the people who have
\nfled Sampit (Central Kalimantan) as a result of ethnic violence,
\nor from rising flood waters or from earthquakes. Why should he?
\nEven Gus Dur has left the country.<\/p>\n
Even the national currency has withstood the pressure to stay
\nbelow Rp 10,000 against the US dollar. Soeharto has nothing to
\nworry about. His children are smart enough to have some dollars
\nhidden away somewhere, but certainly not in the bunkers under Jl.
\nCendana.<\/p>\n
GANDHI SUKARDI<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/the-emperor-is-sick-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }