Unbeatable spirit shines on<\/p>\n
Kornelius Purba and Harry Bhaskara, Staff Writers, The Jakarta Post,
\nJakarta
\nkorpur@yahoo.com<\/p>\n
Indonesians throughout the archipelago will be celebrating their
\ncountry's Independence Day on Sunday. The day is generally seen
\nas an occasion for national thanksgiving, but it is perhaps
\ndifficult for many Indonesians to think of what they should be
\ngrateful for, given the country's current situation 58 years
\nafter it came into being.<\/p>\n
Apart from the regalia of state functions, the people will
\ncelebrate in their own ways. Traditionally, a communal prayer on
\nbehalf of Indonesia is held on the eve of Aug. 17. A neighborhood
\ncommunity would gather to express their gratitude for the
\nblessings the nation has received from God -- such as freedom,
\nprogress in development, prosperity and sense of security --
\nhowever imperfect they may be, and pray for His continued
\nprotection for Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Then they will turn to the fun part of the day, with
\ncompetitions from volley ball to entertaining games, trying to
\nmark the day as joyfully as possible.<\/p>\n
Since it won its freedom from the Dutch colonial government
\nand subsequent Japanese invaders in 1945, the country has gone
\nthrough much rain and shine.<\/p>\n
During the 30-year repressive New Order regime, it achieved
\nsome significant strides in improving the people's welfare,
\nnotably in health and education, and maintained a relative peace
\nthroughout the country.<\/p>\n
On the occasion of its golden anniversary in 1995, Soeharto,
\nwho was then at the peak of his power, read the following poem in
\nhis State of the Nation address at the House of Representatives
\n(DPR):<\/p>\n
We have struggled for 50 years,<\/p>\n
we have passed through joys and sorrows,<\/p>\n
and we have worked hard,<\/p>\n
This year, we can rejoice.<\/p>\n
Indonesia was then enjoying an average of seven percent annual
\neconomic growth, and the world was full of praise for the
\ncountry, calling it a model for developing countries.<\/p>\n
An unforeseen series of events occurred in 1997 with the Asian
\neconomic crisis and Indonesia, as it turned out, suffered the
\nmost compared to other Southeast Asian countries.<\/p>\n
But the nation celebrated its 53rd year of independence in
\n1998 in a state of euphoria at their liberation from Soeharto's
\ndictatorial rule just three months before the anniversary -- even
\nthough the economy was at the brink of bankruptcy.<\/p>\n
Ironically, once the dictator had gone, the country's
\ncondition -- surprisingly or otherwise -- continued to worsen in
\nnearly all aspects of life until now.<\/p>\n
When the country held its first democratic election in 40
\nyears in June 1999, the world media described Indonesians as
\nhaving drawn closer to being a true democracy and as being on the
\nright track for economic recovery. The people stunned the world
\nby holding the election peacefully and in a democratic manner,
\ndespite their recent past under an oppressive regime.<\/p>\n
They proved the fears of the international community to be
\nunfounded, and the world warmly welcomed respected Muslim cleric
\nAbdurrahman Wahid as the country's fourth president in October
\n1999.<\/p>\n
It was only two months later that the people realized that
\nthey were led by a president whose political vision might be too
\nfar ahead of the ordinary people. He was often seen by the public
\nas having a special talent in creating controversies, on top of
\nhis penchant for seeking enemies and his fondness for touring the
\nglobe with no apparent benefits to the nation.<\/p>\n
As Independence Day draws ever nearer, a question arises as to
\nwhether President Megawati Soekarnoputri have the courage and
\nfaith to recite a poem similar to Soeharto's in her State of the
\nNation address on Saturday.<\/p>\n
What progress have we achieved as a nation since then? Are we
\ntruly independent as a nation? From what sufferings have we been
\nliberated by the government?<\/p>\n
We certainly have not freed ourselves from poverty, from the
\nworsening quality of education, from raging unemployment, from
\nunpredictable security situations, ... The list is exhaustive.<\/p>\n
Only four days after Megawati triumphantly announced her
\nachievement in restoring security and order, terrorists bombed
\nthe JW Marriott Hotel in South Jakarta on Aug. 5, killing 12
\npeople and wounding 147. It seems it was the first time the elite
\nrefrained from blaming other countries as being responsible for
\nthe terrorist attack, and police investigators sifted through the
\nrubble immediately to track down the perpetrators.<\/p>\n
It would be totally misleading to conclude that Indonesia has
\nno hope. The more likely scenario is that the ordinary people
\nwill prove next year, once again, that they are intelligent and
\nmature enough to take part in the first-ever direct presidential
\nelection. We would bet, as they proved in 1999, that the people
\nwill use their constitutional rights peacefully. However, we
\ncannot ignore the possibility that some power-hungry elite might
\nprovoke riots and violence to promote their own interests.<\/p>\n
Over the next few days, it will be common to hear people
\nsinging Kebyar-kebyar, a nationalistic song by the late Gombloh:<\/p>\n
Biarpun bumi berguncang,<\/p>\n
(Although the earth is shaken,)<\/p>\n
kau tetap Indonesiaku<\/p>\n
(You remain my Indonesia)<\/p>\n
andaikan matahari terbit dari barat<\/p>\n
(even when the sun rises in the west)<\/p>\n
kaupun tetap Indonesiaku.<\/p>\n
(you still remain my Indonesia.)<\/p>\n
On this important day, we need to learn from the unbreakable
\nspirit of people like Kosim, a 38-year-old vendor who sells
\ninstant noodles and coffee along the sidewalk of Jl. Ngurah Rai,
\nEast Jakarta. Public security and order (Kamtib) officers -- who
\nalso collect protection money from him -- have frequently seized
\nhis small pushcart because the East Jakarta mayor feels disturbed
\nevery time he sees vendors along the street.<\/p>\n
Kosim has learned how to escape quickly with his cart when
\nKamtib officers descend in a sudden raid.<\/p>\n
"At least eight people depend on me and my business for their
\nlives. I am no thief. I have to survive," he said last week after
\nescaping a raid.<\/p>\n
Indonesia has come a long way these past 58 years, and has
\nmade some significant changes in our political system. But there
\nis much that can and must be done to improve the welfare of this
\nnation and its peoples so we must continue forth in the face of
\nadversity in our journey toward light at the end of the tunnel.<\/p>\n
This Independence Day, perhaps we should all be grateful for
\nour national resilience, especially the unbeatable spirit of our
\npeople.<\/p>",
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