Expert hails officials' biographies

Expert hails officials' biographies

JAKARTA (JP): Government officials promoting their memoirs
reflect the desire to establish a favorable image of themselves
in the political landscape and the public eye, an Australian
professor said yesterday.

Richard Freadman from the La Trobe University School of
English said that Indonesian figures are attempting to establish
a foothold for posterity in a rapidly changing environment.

"Such attempts can be successful if a particular official has
indeed initiated significant changes for Indonesia," he said
after a discussion held by the University of Indonesia's American
Studies Program.

"Otherwise, their survival prospects to establish a preferred
image decline after their deaths. This is natural," he said.

However, "they can re-emerge when social attitudes and
intellectual fashions change," he said.

Freadman, who had studied Indonesia for some years, was
commenting on the recent flourishing of biographies and memoirs
launched by both active and retired senior government officials.

He said that dramatic changes, namely rising democracy and
people's more critical outlook, would also alter people's
perception of officials.

He cited the biographies of American president John F. Kennedy
as an example. Kennedy was much admired during his lifetime but
public attention became more critical after his death following
the disclosure about his political ambitions, attitude toward
women and the Cuban missile crisis.

Freadman said these reassessments emerged because of more
information and changing social attitudes.

Biographies recently launched here include those by former
vice president Sudharmono, who was in office from 1988 and 1992,
with two books titled Sudharmono SH. Pengalaman dalam Masa
Pengabdian (Sudharmono SH. Experiences of Service ) and Kesan dan
Kenangan dari Teman, 70 Tahun Sudharmono (Friends' Views,
Sudharmono SH Turns 70).

The writer Motinggo Busye recently launched a biography called
Harmoko dan Golkar (Harmoko and Golkar) to commemorate the 58th
birthday on Feb. 7 of Minister of Information Harmoko.

This marks the second book for Harmoko, also Golkar chairman.
The first one was published in 1989 with the title 50 Tahun
Harmoko: Menatap dengan Mata dan Hati Rakyat (Harmoko at 50: A
look into the people's eyes and heart) to celebrate his 50th
birthday. (01)