Golkar causes RI's collapse

Golkar causes RI's collapse

From Rakyat Merdeka

Once former president Soeharto said: "The fall of Indonesia is
not due to my fault alone... ". Focussing on Soeharto's above
statement, let's observe the history of 34 years ago.

Who were the driving forces supporting the president? Were
they the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
Perjuangan), Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) or United Development Party
(PPP)? Not at all. As a matter of fact they were the New Order's
ruling class (Golkar). I can't say 100 percent, but I dare say 99
percent of governors, mayors, regents, district heads and village
chiefs were from Golkar.

The main factors causing Indonesia's collapse are obviously
due to the absence of law enforcement and the furious rise of
corruption, collusion and nepotism. Again, not 100 percent, but I
dare say 99.99 percent of the perpetrators are from Golkar.

Never in the history of mankind has there been a country once
devastated by a class of people, and then re-built by that class
of society. But I don't know if Golkar can.

Now they are ready for re-awakening. Strategic positions
including district heads and village chiefs are still held by
Golkar devotees. With the inferior political knowledge and
awareness of villagers, in the recent general election Golkar
succeeded in winning a large number of votes from the remote
villages.

In urban areas where the peoples' level of political knowledge
is reasonably high, Golkar lost and eventually PDI Perjuangan has
won. So, by virtue of the peoples' aspirations and democracy,
Megawati Soekarnoputri should have become Indonesia's president.

But in the political process, quite a strange phenomenon has
occurred. Firstly, the emergence of the idea that "a female may
not become a president". (If so, I suggest that anywhere in
Indonesia there should be no female lecturers nor medical
doctors).

In the next process, reform and democracy were flamingly
voiced, but in fact they were only lobbying for and exchanging
positions. So, the political party receiving only meager votes in
the general election has reaped a high position, as if it were
the party which succeeded in getting the majority of votes. Is
that what is called democracy?

After having read a minimum of two newspapers every day for at
least 55 years, I can conclude that Abdurrahman Wahid or whoever
else is the president, will be rocked by the terrifying incidents
at Banyuwangi, Ciamis, Timor, Aceh, Maluku and in other places.
And an ideal president must have a positive character or
characteristic like Soekarno and Soeharto.

Soekarno's positive characteristic was to love the people and
not want the peoples' money, while Soeharto's positive trait was
to lead with an iron fist. Generals, politicians, officials and
business people were totally eliminated, even if they had
rendered many services to the country. Therefore, Soeharto could
relax and be assured of ruling the Republic of Indonesia for 32
years.

My last conclusion: urban peoples' political awareness is
already high. I think the members of the House of Representatives
or Peoples Consultative Assembly must have a higher political
conscience. But, in fact, senior and key positions have been held
by Golkar figures. There must be an "X" factor, and that factor
might be God's blessing, which has made the country run. Or is it
the money that has made all of this work?

TAN IE TIE

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