Amien Rais lacking self-confidence

Amien Rais lacking self-confidence

From Merdeka

From 1990 to early 1999 I greatly admired Amien Rais. At the time the tiger was at its fiercest, he had the pluck to bring the succession of the country's leadership into question. He also had other brilliant ideas. It is only fitting to crown him the Father of Indonesian Reform. He always remained in the corridors of the constitution making life difficult for the authorities of the New Order regime.

However, my admiration for him stopped in early March 1999 when he proposed that the U.S. government exert pressure on the Indonesian government to be serious in solving the current problems in the country.

Amien Rais may have forgotten our country's history. The U.S. through Allan Pope aided the Permesta (uprising in North Sulawesi in the 1950s)/PRRI (idem in Sumatra) with scorched-earth methods. The U.S. wants things, and, if it is invited, or even if it is not invited, it will interfere in other countries' domestic affairs without any shame or qualms. Remember the abduction of the Panama president, Manuel Noriega, the aggression against Libya and the shooting down of an Iranian passenger plane.

When their partner the Shah of Iran was in power, how sweet was the U.S. toward that country! During the Iran-Iraq conflict the U.S. and Europe defended Iraq tenaciously. What is the situation now?

Now Amien Rais wants to invite the U.S. to help overcome our domestic problems. Does he not know or does he pretend not to know that even now and since a long time ago the U.S. has always messed with Indonesia's affairs? Our condition now is the product of that country's policy. I am ashamed of myself that for many years I admired somebody who has no self-confidence and who is narrow-minded in his nationalism. If God tells us not to sell His verses cheap, I would like to tell Amien Rais not to auction Indonesia for a few dollars.

Amien must realize that the general election is only a few months away. There is a possibility that his party will win and he will be a candidate president. He must have self-confidence and not go asking for help from other countries. We can solve our own problems.

H.R. IDRIS

Jakarta