Amien a real disappointment
Amien Rais' refusal to engage in a constructive dialogue with President Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid, Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri and House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung in order to search for a solution to the nation's problems ("Gus Dur hopes to meet critics ... ," The Jakarta Post, April 7, 2001), is extremely disappointing and revealing at the same time. To me it seems to be the final proof that he and his political companions from the central axis, like Hamzah Haz and Yusril Ihza Mahendra, right from the start have followed a strategy of furthering their own narrow-minded political interests rather than the nation's well-being.
After having suffered a thrashing defeat during the 1999 general election, they chose to push for Gus Dur to become president, hoping that -- because of his blindness and health problems -- he would be weak enough to allow them to pursue their selfish political goals.
Realizing that Gus Dur persistently maintains a very independent political position, not willing to make any concessions to those who would like to see the country move away from a secular, inclusive and democracy-based political system, they are now undertaking all efforts to topple the country's first democratically elected president. In doing so, they do not even shy away from taking the nation to the brink of a catastrophe.
I wonder whether the three above-mentioned party leaders have ever bothered to ask the majority of Indonesians what they think about their dangerous political course, which will definitely lead to more conflicts, a further decline of the rupiah and economic instability, which means that the poor will get even poorer.
As I have the chance to talk to ordinary people every day, I can surely say they disapprove of the maneuvers of Amien Rais and his political companions. These selfish politicians who display their arrogance by ignoring the people's aspirations will certainly be taken to account during the next general election.
MRS. HILDE MAY
Jakarta