Confusing words

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