Enlightened statesmanship

Reviewing various nations' histories throughout the ages, parallels may be drawn more or less, although they may differ in magnitude and historical repercussions. There are nations who lost in World War II, but have since resurrected as phoenix from the ashes. Other nations recently were subjected to the fate of disintegration to turn into different nationalities, much to their great dismay. Then, there are instances of dynasties and regimes which boasted of national grandeur in their past only to turn into disgraceful legacies.

The classic fate of a regime which turned helpless in the face of an ensuing debacle found expression in the catch-phrase attributed to Louis XIV of France who allegedly stated: "After us the deluge" (from the Biblical story of the great flood of Noah).

In the heroic struggle for national independence from Spain under King Philips II, in what was called the 80 Year War (from 1568 - 1648, culminating in the Treaty of Westphalia), the Dutch people were not exempt from critical national ordeals.

There was the period when it was said that "the government is without reason, the people lose their mind, and the country is helpless".

In short, national disasters in the political process may abound in nations' histories.

Nowadays, we find that Indonesia is not exempt from the severe trial. But, of course, we must not lose hope. The time will come when the nation will resurrect. Now is the time the country needs enlightened statesmanship.

If Indonesia of the past, during the independence war from 1945 to 1950, had known among its leaders capable statesmen like Sutan Syahrir, Mohammad Hatta, Muhammad Roem, Prof. Supomo, Anak Agung Gde Agung and many others, then during the forthcoming November, we should look forward to securing national figures who will follow in the footsteps of enlightened statesmanship, and have the people's interest at heart.

SAM SUHAEDI

Jakarta