The silver lining of Akbar's acquittal<\/p>\n
Wimar Witoelar, Head, InterMatrix Communications, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The main message conveyed by the Supreme Court's decision on
\nAkbar Tandjung is that crime pays in today's Indonesia ... as
\nlong as you have common interests with those who hold political
\npower. The verdict effectively legitimizes corruption as an
\naccessory of power.<\/p>\n
\"So what else is new?\" the cynic might ask. Only the naive
\nwere hoping that the court would present itself as a profile in
\ncourage. Apparently that was just a romantic notion.<\/p>\n
We do not know whether there will be a tumultuous public
\nreaction. Probably not. Jakarta is flooded and congested and
\npeople have all their own daily irritations that block out long-
\nrange problems.<\/p>\n
What about the impact on the elections? There will not be
\nmuch. There are no new dynamics because most political analysts
\nhave already factored in an Akbar Tandjung release into the
\nequation. We do know that Akbar's Houdini act is very convenient
\nfor Megawati Soekarnoputri. Akbar, although free, will be a
\nseverely weakened candidate. Yet Golkar will not replace him with
\na stronger rival to compete against Megawati, because he has
\nproven to be a cat with nine lives, credentials which give a
\npolitician unshakable power.<\/p>\n
What about the corruption case itself? Akbar Tandjung was
\nfound guilty in September 2002 of diverting nearly US$4.8 million
\nof state funds intended for a relief program. The money ended up
\nin the Golkar party coffers, the prosecution said. The question
\nis: Was then president B.J. Habibie the culprit, whom Akbar
\naccused of giving the orders, or was then state secretary Akbar
\nTandjung the guilty one, as Habibie and his loyalists testified
\nin court? Somebody must be guilty. Yet now everybody is running
\naround free.<\/p>\n
But as an inveterate optimist I see a silver lining. Now there
\nis nowhere to go but up. The reform that has stalled has now
\nclearly stopped. Like being on a train to Bandung which grinds
\nslower and slower until it finally just comes to a dead stop. At
\nleast you can get off and breathe some mountain air.<\/p>\n
It should now be easier to give people wake-up calls and
\nremind them of the urgency to do something. It is not so clear
\nhow many people are left who have not given up on reform. But at
\nleast the lines become more clearly delineated between those in
\nfavor of old-style politics and those in favor of a rejuvenation
\nof the system.<\/p>\n
The court's decision likely squashed the presidential
\nprospects of other shady figures. At least one who is facing
\nprosecution war crimes, and several other people whose old-style
\nautocratic style appeals to victims of Stockholm syndrome
\nnostalgia.<\/p>\n
In conclusion, although it is extremely difficult to find
\npositive angles in this latest political drama, there is actually
\none big positive, so big that many fail to see it.<\/p>\n
Indonesia has transformed itself significantly since 1998
\ndespite the bankruptcy (morally, certainly not financially) of
\nthe political leaders. The people have risen up and executed
\nfundamental reforms with the sheer power of their will. First and
\nforemost, democracy and freedom of the press. Articles such as
\nthis appear all over the place. It used to be that we had to
\nwhisper in dark corners when you wanted to criticize the
\nIndonesian leadership. Now you do it at the gates of the
\nPresidential Palace and the Supreme Court and the national
\nlegislature. My friend asks, \"What for? What good is democracy if
\nit does not make you wealthy?\"<\/p>\n
Which reminds me of a person with a lung ailment. He must
\nforce in each breath, even though it is excruciatingly painful,
\nbut if he succumbs to the pain and quits breathing before doctors
\ncan fix him up, he dies very quickly. And that is not really an
\noption. Democracy also hurts, but democracy is a necessity, not
\nan option. And now we have to make full use of it to overrule all
\nthe cynical, politically driven judicial, executive and
\nlegislative rulings. It should be easier now without the
\nillusions.<\/p>\n
InterMatrix Communications is a Jakarta-based consulting firm.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/the-silver-lining-of-akbars-acquittal-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }