Gus Dur's indifference

Gus Dur's indifference

From Rakyat Merdeka

The overseas trip of President Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid and
his entourage comprising more than 90 people is indeed fantastic.
In the midst of the country's chaotic situation, and turbulence
in the towns of Sampit and Sampang, Kalimantan, the President
left the country without leaving any message as to how and who
will make decisions in case of an emergency. Does Vice President
Megawati have the authority to take the necessary steps to
address particular issues? Actually, there are many national
problems that are left unattended.

It seems that we no longer have a national administration and
all segments of the government, including the ministers and
governors, have presumably adopted Gus Dur's style of dealing
with social, economic and political problems, i.e. "why should I
care, leave it to the people, not my business, nothing to worry
about, let the dogs bark" etc.

Once I came across a senior member of the Indonesian Military
who was doing a postgraduate program. Upon my asking whether the
military sees the current phenomenon prevailing in our country in
the same way as the people do, he replied "yes", adding that the
military cannot think anything and is not concerned with
anything. The military has retreated to its barracks and stays
there quietly, unless the need arises -- such as the whole
country being engulfed by fire and greed and ruthlessness running
rampant -- then the military would rise to defend the country's
virtues and goodness.

A thought just flashed through my mind: should the country
experience such a great calamity and violent chaos only because
we have mistakenly elected Gus Dur as president? Then, is the
mistake incorrigible, so that the people have to endure the
hardship for God knows how long? How strange things are!

INDRAWAN GARCIANO

Jakarta