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