Bank Bali shenanigans

Bank Bali shenanigans

The Bank Bali drama shed a glimpse of light on a deeper and
more rooted complexity of Indonesia's sociocultural sphere: the
ambiguous political and economical relationships among members of
Indonesian society.

Look at the chronology of events recorded by ex-Bank Bali
director Rudy Ramli in a journal and, moreover, the subsequent
events: the denial of the journal by "Rudy Ramli" in a written
statement (allegedly bearing his signature) which was read by
Minister of Justice Muladi after a Cabinet meeting (see how
things have comically gone wrong!). And eventually his confession
in front of the House that he did not compose it, that he merely
signed it. It makes for a preposterously unfunny play, very
expensive, so ironic, and shows how deep our problems, as a
nation, are.

Who is the "real hero", if anything, in this case? None but
Rudy Ramli himself. Despite his implied innocence (nevertheless
his bank is the one which lent the money and it is entitled to
get it back), he was bound by a sense of responsibility -- and
perhaps somehow by his reluctance to just give away the money so
easily -- he strived for any possible means to gain it back.

Through doubt, anxiety and despair, amid fear, human
weaknesses and strong sense of responsibility, he was right to
his conscience's call, chose the right thing and courageously
come up in front of the legislature to deliver only the truth and
nothing but the truth.

Now it is up to the House and -- if we could still count on
them -- the judicial institutions, as people's representatives,
not betray the trust but to proceed with the case and restore the
belief in justice.

ILHAM DJAJA

Jakarta