Confusing words

A few days ago President Habibie gave a speech warning the people of the lurking danger of KOMAS, which he meant as the danger coming from communists, marhaenists and socialists. This combination of three political ideologies invented by the President has invited strong criticism from senior politicians all over Indonesia, and Habibie was asked to study Indonesian history, especially political history and the meaning of marhaenism and socialism.

Habibie later tried to explain what he meant by KOMAS, but his mistake was already too deep in the hearts of Marhaenists and the explanation was not accepted.

The President should have consulted with students before his speech so that he could explain what he really meant by KOMAS. On the front page of The Jakarta Post's May 19 edition we read what, according to the students, KOMAS actually means: Komite Anti- Soeharto (Anti-Soeharto Committee).

If the President took time to talk with the students then his name would not be damaged and he might even be considered a hero of the reform era. But if that was the case, then he would be asked by the students to follow up his KOMAS statement by ordering the Attorney General to step up his investigation of Soeharto and bring him to an International Court, which politically and psychologically would be a very difficult decision to make. Both ways he lost. But anyhow, we all hope that he is more careful in the future. Everything has its good and bad sides.

SOEGIH ARTO

Jakarta