Embarrassed by RI's arrogance

Jordan's King Hussein was one of the world's greatest leaders. More than that, he espoused truly human values at a time when men often act like animals. Every country showed its respect and admiration for the king, every country except Indonesia, which sent, as The Jakarta Post so aptly put it, "a low-level delegation" to the funeral ceremony. Not even Ali Alatas attended, a man who could have represented us with dignity.

What was Habibie thinking of? Or wasn't he thinking at all? Allow me to name a few of the dignitaries who were in attendance: Britain's Prime Minister Tony Blair, Prince Charles, Syrian President Hafez al-Assad, U.S. President Bill Clinton along with three former American presidents, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Russian President Boris Yeltsin and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Brunei's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah.

I followed the funeral ceremony on both CNN and BBC for hours. When the Indonesian delegation appeared, I felt embarrassed. No one of importance or stature attended the king's funeral. Besides paying respects to one of the century's greatest leaders, it would have been a good opportunity to convey condolences to King Abdullah and to meet other dignitaries.

I feel sorry that Indonesia is so blind and arrogant.

Name and address

known to the editor