President and the New Order

President and the New Order

From Republika

We feel called upon to respond to an explanation made by Mr. Adhie M. Massardi in his capacity as presidential spokesperson about the opinion of the general chairman of the Association of Indonesian Muslim Intellectuals (ICMI), as reported in Republika on Jan. 4, 2001. Mr. Massardi said that President Abdurrahman Wahid did not agree to generalizations when evaluating things, as this was a model practiced by the New Order administration. "Not all New Order or Golkar people are bad and not all non-New Order people are good," Mr. Massardi quoted the President as saying.

The President's stance is good as it is a political education for the community. People are taught to be critical and not just to find scapegoats.

Unfortunately, words and deeds are worlds apart. In a number of cases, it is the President who has shown his penchant for scapegoating people. In the case of the Supreme Court chief justice, for example, the President made use of the New Order issue to reject Muladi and Bagir Manan, the two candidates who had been elected constitutionally, fairly and transparently. In this respect, the President failed to serve as a model for how to implement statehood well and correctly.

In no way has Mr. Adi Sasono twisted the President's statement, as Mr. Massardi alleged. Mr. Adi Sasono has simply stated reality.

TATAT RACHMITA

First Secretary of ICMI

Jakarta