Fired police chief teaches us about responsibility

Kornelius Purba, Jakarta

Ins. Gen. Jusuf Manggabarani, who was dismissed as South Sulawesi Police chief last week following brutal police treatment of student demonstrators in Makassar, expressed a very rare and brave reaction about the fate he ought to face as a consequence of the police ferocity.

"I am a man and a leader. I am ready to take responsibility for the negligence shown by my subordinates ... When all of my subordinates are guilty, how come I am not (guilty)? I must be responsible, and I am proud to bear the responsibility," Manggabarani said, as quoted by Kompas daily.

For years we have not heard such a reaction from our leaders. We are familiar with their self-defensive statements or hand- washing attitude in facing public criticism. A long time ago, we used to hear a kind of slogan from the Indonesian Military (TNI) top brass: "When subordinates commit a mistake, it is their commander who must be blamed".

Manggabarani's message is especially worth reflecting upon this month, with the nation remembering Black May, and when the nation is preparing itself for the direct presidential election on July 5. On May 12, 1998, four Trisakti students were shot dead inside their own campus in Grogol, West Jakarta, when security forces dispersed their peaceful demonstration, in which they demanded that then president Soeharto step down.

After the funerals on the following day, riots swept Jakarta and spread to other cities, for two days. Thousands of people, branded by the government as looters, were burned alive in shopping malls and business centers in Jakarta. A great number of Chinese women were believed to have been raped, many of whom were also killed, during the two-day rampage.

The violence forced Soeharto to resign on May 21. Despite Soeharto's fall, the May tragedy remains an unresolved issue. Soeharto's three successors -- B.J. Habibie, Abdurrahman Wahid and incumbent president Megawati Soekarnoputri -- all vowed to bring to justice anyone responsible for the gross crimes against humanity, but no progress has been achieved so far.

Habibie declared the four Trisakti students "Heroes of Reform". He ordered a thorough investigation into the May riots. When the official result of the investigation was announced, the government was quick to question the number of victims and not the substance of the crimes against humanity.

Shamelessly, the House of Representatives (DPR) concluded no gross human rights violations were committed during that time.

Was anyone brave enough to act like Manggabarani, six years ago? No single civilian or military leader wanted to take responsibility. At least, from their public statements, they vowed that they had done their best to control the chaos, but it was beyond their power to stop the killings.

Then chief of the Indonesian Armed Forces (ABRI)/minister of defense Gen. Wiranto complained in his memoir, Witness in the storm, about people who threw the dirt of the reform process at the security apparatus.

"'Hey, you, security officers, why did you allow the May 1998 riots to take place? I would now take you to court for this gross violation of human rights.' What a perverted world we now live in!"

He also writes: "We have in fact made every effort and succeeded in bringing the May 1998 riots under control."

Gen. (ret) Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who was ABRI chief of sociopolitical affairs, in his authorized memoir, SBY Sang Demokrat (SBY, the Democrat), was quick to recall the accusations against Wiranto and himself -- that they planned to carry out a military coup during the episode -- in the chapter about the May tragedy.

National Police chief Da'i Bachtiar has dismissed Manggabarani. But he has given us a very valuable lesson: When you are a leader, do not only enjoy your privileges as a leader but also be ready to face the worst consequences.

President Megawati Soekarnoputri probably needs to learn from the police officer. When her party, the Indonesian Democratic of Struggle (PDI-P), suffered a big loss in last month's legislative election, she apparently lacked the courage to say that she was ready to take the blame for the party's poor performance.

Our presidential hopefuls also need to learn about gentlemanly conduct from the dismissed police chief. If they fail to deliver on their economic promises after being elected as president, no one hopes they will say, "It is my ministers who made the stupid economic policies: You must blame them, not me."

We have too often heard or read statements from our leaders who blamed other people for the mistakes they made. Look at the political parties that gained few votes in the April 5 legislative election. The party leaders never looked at the mirror but blamed the General Elections Commission (KPU) for the humiliation they suffered from the poor results.

A friend, who works at the presidential office, gives advice on how to act as a good subordinate: "When the boss makes mistakes, we must be ready to take the blame. The boss is only responsible for the good things."

Manggabarani's career, for sure, will be affected by his dismissal, but he has given us a good lesson in how to act as a leader. However, are our leaders ready to accept his advice?

Kornelius Purba (purba@thejakartapost.com) is a staff writer of The Jakarta Post.