April Fool's Day

Fifty years ago it would have been like an April Fool's Day performance by two sisters. They met in the final of the Lipton tennis tournament in Florida, the United States. They are Venus Williams and Serena Williams, and both are African-American teenagers.

Among those they beat on their way to the final were Steffi Graf, Martina Hingis, Jana Novotna and Monica Seles. This has nothing to do with April Fool's Day; it is a reality, the result of an open society, although discrimination still exists.

For tennis, a sport which has long been dominated by Caucasians, this was a leap ahead by 50 years. After 50 years of independence, Indonesia has taken a leap back by 60 years. The much talked about free and open general election should not end up like an April Fool's Day farce, with the old, ugly forces coming to the surface again. Already the nation is being fooled by those whose responsibility it is to bring our former ruler to justice. They say there is not enough evidence to prove our former ruler is guilty according to the law. Even the houses reportedly owned by the ruler's family in London do not count. They are just bricks and glass and do not prove a thing. The media have been blamed for drawing too quick a conclusion. This looks like a perfect April Fool's Day comedy.

"The investigation has not stopped. That is only your conclusion," someone from the Attorney General's Office told reporters with a smile. I am sure he was thinking of the wonderful month of April.

In reality, the nation has never recorded a greater tragedy than the tens of thousands of refugees fleeing for safety in their own country. Protection and assistance appear to come very slowly and measures are taken only after the situation has deteriorated.

The leaders are missing their sense of priority it seems, and national problems are being tackled in an unprofessional and confusing manner. Foresight, wisdom, concern and the constant monitoring of local people's aspirations and grudges, whether social, economic, religious or cultural, by local administrations have been regrettably missing. Otherwise, sudden tragic flare-ups in various parts of the country could have been minimized or prevented all together.

For instance, the executive branch, which rules by virtue of the people's grace, should realize that the people do not deserve to have the rabbit comes out of the election day hat. After more than three decades, they are fed up with such tricks and will protest against April Fool's Day political manipulations.

Whoever is to blame, I am afraid promises granted to the local populations of Irian Jaya, Aceh and East Timor, to improve their fates through wide-ranging autonomy, a kind of self-rule, will prove too late to hold this cherished republic together.

In many respects, this administration seems good only at playing April Fool's Day tricks involving its money policies.

GANDHI SUKARDI

Jakarta