Habibie's absence at APEC
Habibie's absence at APEC
The most intriguing gossip today seems to center around the
absence of President Habibie from the Asia-Pacific Economic
Cooperation (APEC) summit in Auckland, New Zealand. After
Indonesia's foreign policy strategy concerning East Timor ran
aground in international waters, in spite of foreign minister Ali
Alatas' tireless and dogged efforts to save face for Indonesia,
and amid internal turmoil in the provinces of Aceh, Maluku and
Irian Jaya, compounded by the Bank Bali scandal, there are not
many trump cards that Habibie can play in Auckland.
Presidential spokeswoman Dewi Fortuna Anwar's argument that
Habibie has more urgent matters to attend to on the home front
sounds rather hollow, to say the least. As I see it, Habibie is a
tough personality who rarely gives up on an idea he believes in
and loves to face challenges. But the international criticism or
outright condemnation of his policies aired by American President
Bill Clinton, among others, seems too much for Habibie. Maybe he
could not show his usually proud and dignified face without
betraying a trace of disappointment, stress and shame after he
became a cunning political actor.
It may be that the "genius scientist statesman" prefers to
weigh his chances in the upcoming presidential election in the
People's Consultative Assembly than exchange free trade nonsense
in Auckland. After all, man does not live by trade alone. (In
reality, without exports the economy would collapse).
A great number of people have also blamed Habibie for allowing
the former Portuguese colony to slip from Indonesia's hands
following an unsuccessful 23-year campaign of territorial
expansion.
If, however, his voice is still firm and loud, even shrill at
times, Habibie has not lost his self-confidence. I have more than
once suggested that Indonesia should have a vice president who
can replace the head of state in times of crisis or inconvenient
circumstances. For to paraphrase the famous Beatles' song: I
believe in yesterday when there was a vice president.
GANDHI SUKARDI
Jakarta