Presidential nomination of Mega

Mr. Huub Neys (The Jakarta Post, July 22, 1999) from Maastricht, the Netherlands, reacted to my views in this column instead of telephoning me in Amsterdam. He says he dreams about Indonesia and wants to help these dreams come true.

Psychiatrist Bruno Bettelheim wrote various books about fairy tales never coming true. Freud's Interpretation of dreams originated from studies in hysteria. I do not know in what capacity Mr. Neys worked or traveled in Indonesia. I did so since 1956 as a journalist. I am not in the business of promoting fairy tales nor dreams. The shocking reality is: Indonesia needs desperately to transcend from military dictatorship toward a land of democracy and freedom. Dreaming won't help. This is dead serious business.

Mr. Neys compared Indonesia with the Philippines, which to me is like comparing the banteng (bull) with the bird that picks its back. Comparing a presidential flop like Ronald Reagan with Megawati further weakens Neys' arguments. Megawati and her team of professional advisors would make more sense than Reagan could ever produce. But is it enough? There is periculum in mora for Indonesia. The nation is sick and needs a cure: yes. But too often the cure is worse than the disease. A trustworthy, charming, sincere or well meaning symbol, which Megawati is, would not cure this particular patient at this juncture. Actually, there is no antibiotic available on the market that would remove the present infection instantly, including the rampant corruption that Mr. Neys mentions.

How can anyone assume, in 1999, as Mr. Neys does, that an aura of honesty, determination to see justice done, around Megawati, would do the trick of curing Indonesia instantly of all its ills, including corruption, lying and stealing by those in position of power? If Megawati could become a queen, it would be the ideal solution, but the 1945 Constitution does not allow it.

During the entire 20th century, the Netherlands had three women symbols on the throne: Wihelmina, Juliana and Beatrix. It's collective madness, a queen in the nuclear age, but it works. England and the Netherlands are the last nations where once a year a golden carriage appears a la Walt Disney in the streets.

As long as people take it seriously, why not, it does no harm. Megawati could join Elizabeth II and Beatrix and purchase a golden carriage for that symbolic function. In the meantime, if the presidents of France or Germany ventured out of the palace in a carriage drawn by eight horses, the emergency unit of the nearest madhouse would appear to look them up. Symbolic functions enjoy many disguises.

But Indonesia in 1999 is not in dire need of a national symbol as much as a strong hand capable of guiding the nation toward a truly democratic state. Alone Megawati's hand is not strong enough. Perhaps there is no other way than aligning herself with Gen. Wiranto, but then the $64,000 question is: Will the people understand? Maybe Wiranto learned from inside the system, where it went wrong. Together Megawati and Wiranto could preserve Bung Karno's unitary state, and outsmart the enemies who are waiting to see Sukarno's dream fall apart.

WILLEM OLTMANS

Amsterdam