Aiming at the wrong target
Aiming at the wrong target
(American Indonesia expert) Jeffrey A. Winters came to
Indonesia for the launch of two of his books -- both new and
superb in content and use of the Indonesian language. The
public's response has been most favorable. The books' public
launch has been well attended and well covered by the press.
End of the episode? Not quite, and herein lies the
significance of the event. With the book launching formalities
over, two more, and no less exacting, episodes await Winters.
First, he will be summoned by the Attorney General's Office in
connection with investigations concerning former president
Soeharto's alleged wealth. Second, National Police Headquarters
formally accused him of defaming Coordinating Minister for
Economy, Finance and Industry Ginandjar Kartasasmita in a case
involving (United States-based mining company) PT Freeport
Indonesia. Winters is accused of defamation because he has
questioned Ginandjar's "cleanness".
Thus, once again, our legal authorities have set their aim on
the wrong target. The substance of the case involves an attempt
to uncover cases of corruption, collusion and nepotism. In doing
this, academics have their own manner of stating their case. But
why, then, are they being pursued for questioning? This is the
fate which has befallen George Aditjondro, Christianto Wibisono
and now Winters.
It must be said that swapping substance and altering the gist
seems to be a strategy favored by the Habibie government. The
case of the scanned telephone conversation between President
Habibie and Attorney General Ghalib is a case in point.
Curiously, it is not the content of the conversation which is
being questioned and investigated. Instead, the authorities
insist on finding the person who scanned the conversation and
have wasted a good deal of time questioning the press, which
reported the incident. In the meantime, as any sane person knows,
scanning a telephone conversation is one thing, discovering the
truth of the conversation's content is another.
The point is, which question must be answered first? The list
of examples could be extended, but the conclusion remains the
same: Our legal authorities have been going in the wrong
direction and are aiming at the wrong targets. They are not
chasing the thieves, but the people who are shouting "thief". But
sounding the alarm is the job, even the calling, of every
intellectual.
-- Media Indonesia, Jakarta