Letter to the President

Letter to the President

From Merdeka

I am only a mother and a housewife, but if you asked me, "What
is the best thing that we can do for this angry nation?", I would
reply:

1. Do not talk too much anymore, especially not in a
threatening tone.

2. You must state that you will not resort to a security
approach in handling each action. Your approach should take the
form of a dialog, and for this purpose you should call prominent
figures who clearly have legitimacy with the people: the four
leaders who signed the Ciganjur Declaration, representatives of
students and rectors and those who have openly questioned the
authorities. They are not enemies, and what they want is
certainly for the common good of this nation.

3. Stop looking for scapegoats for each problem. In fact, I am
fed up with the many reminders and warnings which seem to be
constructive but instead ignite enmity.

4. Start arranging the things that are possibly not in order
in the cabinet you lead.

I hope that some day you will ask me the question, although it
may be only in my dreams.

SILVANA RACHEL BAWENGAN

Jakarta