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