National reawakening

National reawakening

From Media Indonesia

Thank God, the June 7, 1999 general election, regardless of
all its shortcomings, has marked the beginning of the Indonesian
people's reawakening from the low position they found themselves
in all this time. As predicted, the winner of the election will
not be able to constitute a single majority. So, our People's
Consultative Assembly/House of Representatives will be really
colorful.

In this context, allow me, an Indonesian who always hopes for
his nation's unity, which is now threatened by disintegration, to
request that our leaders unite in rebuilding this nation. There
is now no longer any need for mutual condemnation, elbowing and
blocking. We all belong to the same motherland and the interest
of the nation reigns supreme.

Someone can be considered a national leader and a statesman if
he places national interests above those of his own or his group.
It is this type of person that is now needed to bring together
various aspirations and perceptions in a wise manner.

Most people, in fact, have only a simple wish: how to get out
of the ongoing economic crisis so that daily necessities can be
easily available and life will be peaceful. They won't care much
about who will become president.

In my opinion, it is necessary for political parties to
establish a coalition after the general election. But, mind you,
this will not be a coalition of parties having a common
principle, ideology or platform. What we need is a national
coalition, or a national reconciliation. In this national
coalition all national leaders will jointly strive to build this
nation sincerely.

Again, in my opinion, it is this kind of coalition that the
nation now urgently needs. Such a coalition will enable our
national leaders to address all the problems encountered by the
nation. The government, the legislature reflecting popular
choice, the military and the people will work together toward
solving these problems.

If everything is plain sailing, then we will finally be able
to establish a civil society characterized by prosperity, justice
and welfare in the run-up to Indonesia's glory in the 21st
century. Oh, how beautiful this dream. But all this can
materialize only if our leaders take the initiative to act as
national leaders or statesmen, not simply leaders of certain
groups. Hope is the only thing left to us, the common people.

M. ADNAN ABDULLAH

Jakarta