Medal worthy
The president holds the constitutional and presidential prerogative to bestow citizens of this country with medals for distinguished or patriotic services on a rare, solemn and festive occasion like the commemoration of Independence Day on Aug. 17. What strikes most people is the great number of people, more than one hundred in total, who were selected for the honor this year. In a way, it shows how the President loves his people, especially those who have shown loyalty to him.
Whether those lucky people really need and deserve to receive the medals is subject to question. The wives of former presidents, in my humble opinion as a retired citizen, could have been spared from standing in the row, so to speak. After all their husbands were the founding fathers of the republic and are thus more worthy to receive state medals.
The presentation of medals to several figures from the New Order regime shows the close association of the head of state with the supporters of Soeharto clan, which is the "antireformist camp".
If incumbent Cabinet ministers receive the honor, it is only justifiable if individually they have contributed to alleviating the "suffering of the people", in the language of the 1945 revolution.
It is also important to weigh the feelings of the populations of provinces still engaged in turbulence if not revolt against the central government. Have we indeed arrived at a time when we can exchange kisses and handshakes all the time while there is still political turmoil in the country, the economy has barely recovered and there is the discovery of new corruption in the Bank Bali scandal that has staggered even the wildest imaginations.
I congratulate all those who feel proud, honored and happy to receive the state medals. Personally, I am pleased that among the journalists selected were my former desk partners and apprentice. I believe, however, that ideally the press should receive its appreciation and "medals" from the common people. It is they whose interests it supposes to protect and pledges to help realize their aspirations for freedom and prosperity.
GANDHI SUKARDI
Jakarta