Wed, 12 Jan 2000

Prabowo, an exemplary citizen

It was reported recently that Prabowo made a three-day blitz tour in Jakarta.

It is my opinion that we pay tribute to this gentleman, who to this date, is the only high-ranking armed forces officer to make public that he was responsible for certain actions undertaken by his unit of special forces.

As we have read in the past, he had an outstanding career and has shown character which can be made the standard of behavior for all of us. He accepted a post, and accepted responsibility and accountability for that.

As far as I can remember, that former president director Abdulgani of Bank Duta did not do so and instead let Dicky Iskandar Dinata go to prison for wrongful behavior, and he went free with the other directors and commissioners.

I do not understand how this person now can become president director of Garuda? How can Garuda personnel be proud to serve under such a leader?

The same applies to Djiwandono as the former BI governor, shielding himself behind instructions from former president Soeharto to extend improper credit to Texmaco and other misdeeds as a professional.

He completely "forgets" that Soeharto did not include in his instructions to "trespass" laws and regulations, etc.

So if he did execute against laws and regulations, just as the former minister of forestry gave Rp 400 billion from reforestation funds to Habibie of PT IPTN, they are both solely responsible.

If there is friction internally in the military, as written in Kompas, Jan. 10, 2000, it indeed shows that they are now rechecking the past realities -- deeds against their credo: "from the people, for the people", what they have contributed in the development of the republic during the past 32 years and what they have done for and to the people.

This is quite a tall order, and very commendable, and we should be helpful to them without accusing. They themselves should come to conclusion against their credo and our constitution and laws, what went wrong or what is wrong, so that they can renew their commitment for 2000 at a fast pace.

Again Prabowo is exemplary, a true leader with the rare correct personal attributes; Professor Sumitro and his family can be proud of this son of Indonesia.

I humbly salute Prabowo as one of the 210 million civilian Indonesians in the street, and I am grateful that he was and is there. I deplore all the misleading smearing intrigue and character assassination against this brilliant and valuable citizen of Indonesia, and urge President Abdurrahman Wahid and Vice President Megawati to correct the misdeeds against this person, and clean the dirt thrown at him. I urge the media to arrive upon the insight that they did do wrong in assisting in those efforts ... !

I wish fervently that he can very soon contribute further in resetting the values and direction of our republic.

Y. SANTO

Jakarta