Heading for the ravine?

Heading for the ravine?

From Rakyat Merdeka

Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid, Megawati Soekarnoputri, Akbar Tandjung and Amien Rais are currently four central figures in Indonesia who are driving a vehicle with 210 million passengers. They are moving toward the end of the road where a ravine, called "the valley of destruction" is waiting. Two previous regimes, the Old Order and New Order, had used that road.

There is a proverb,"Only donkeys fall twice into the same ravine". As a layman, I can clearly see that the nation's leaders are traveling on that road. They are playing politics by fighting for power, experimenting with democracy and using the people of Indonesia as guinea pigs. This is being observed by the international community, particularly those in Washington, the master of democracy and human rights.

I would like to take this opportunity to ask this question, "Is there an alternative road to Rome?" By this I mean a road which would take the people of Indonesia to a life that is comfortable, peaceful and orderly, and with sufficient clothes, food and shelter.

Can our national leaders weave political harmony again like they did in Ciganjur years ago, where they put aside their arrogance and pride?

If this does not materialize, history might repeat itself. We can still recall the issue of the Council of Generals in the Old Order era, followed by the G-30-S/Sept. 30 communist coup attempt, and the "George Soros issue" in the New Order era which lead to the monetary crisis.

GENDON

Bandung