Reform commotion: Where do we go from here?

JAKARTA (JP): "Bingo!", shouted my wife defiantly, raising both of her fists the way a political campaigner would in front of an audience.

"What's that, Mom?" joked Sulung, my eldest son. "Has your kitchen cabinet decided to slash fuel prices further?"

"I have eventually come to a conclusion," she said, glancing at Sulung dismissively. "There is another answer to the fall of Pak Harto.

"Before he was reelected president for the seventh term, he told the nation to reconsider his candidacy. This means Pak Harto was hinting his intention to step down from the post he had held for 32 years.

"But some groups of politicians did not want the former president to go with dignity after all he had done to this country. They supported him to go for another term and then created the commotion. They wanted Pak Harto to be humiliated and bulldozed from the scene as punishment."

The way she talks, you'd think my wife is a politics expert, in a class with Amien Rais or Jusril Ihza Mahendra. But no, she is just an ordinary housewife who used to think that talking about politics was something that would only result in air pollution, akin to Indonesians' habit of consuming jengkol, (a vegetable that causes seriously bad breath). "Politics is just rock and roll," she used to say.

But the current situation has turned her (like millions of others) into an instant political observer. She can spend hours in front of the TV listening to the hot news and to people talking about reform.

Not only that, she is also now an economic analyst conducting frequent discussion among a group of housewives in our kitchen (hence the formation of the kitchen cabinet). Every time a new economic policy is announced on TV, she is the first to comment.

"We don't have to turn to the IMF if we can end the inefficiencies in running this country," she would say. "Just by stopping the 30 percent standard leakage in government spending, we can save billions of dollars."

"Standard leakage? How do you prove there is any leakage? Be careful with your statement. You could be accused of slander and then be abducted and tortured." I tried to get her scared of what might happen.

"Where have you been?" The other member of the "cabinet" looked at me, square in the eyes. "You're so old fashioned. That sort of disgusting scheme could only happen in the previous era. This is an era of reform, for Pete's sake."

"And talking about proof," Mrs. Basa continued hotly, "it doesn't take Sherlock Holmes to find out how the taxpayers' money flows to the private companies belonging to Soeharto's children and his cronies who monopolize the importing and distribution of goods.

Just by nailing Bulog and Pertamina, and then controlling the import and distribution of rice, soybeans, and fuel, we will be in good shape. And Michel Cum d'Asu or whatever his name is, can go fly a kite and Madame Allright can move her 'Mommy Dearest' project somewhere else."

Coming from either Syahrir or Emil Salim, this analysis could be just another tidbit. But it sounds surprisingly "scientific" as it was uttered by a woman whose normal activities take her from the front door to the kitchen; apart from her problem with memorizing names.

The commotion of reform has been a learning "institution" for many. There are so many expressions and terms that we never used that have now become part of our daily vocabulary. Words such as crony, due diligence, culprit, and the like are now used by common people. Wherever you go, people talk about the economy and politics, not to mention "official" rumors.

"If this commotion keeps going, I won't have to send my daughter to the school of economics or politics," said Tanto, one of my colleagues. "Life is itself a school where you can learn anything."

He could be right. The trouble is, our young generation will also learn bad things from what their predecessors are doing. Look at those prominent political leaders who are at each other's throats, fighting to get the best possible position in the up- coming fiesta, that is, jockeying to be in power after the next general election.

Those who used to suppress any reformist ideas are now enjoying a ride on the movement initiated by students, claiming to be part of the reform campaign. Hypocrisy is at its peak. And where does it take our pure, innocent students?

"I'm confused," said Aryo, a university student active in the reform movement. "Some friends are now doing a U-turn, supporting those who are secretly trying to get Soeharto back on the tracks. Apparently, they are insinuated by the inconsistency of our prominent leaders."

Talking about learning, I was not surprised when I overheard our maid talking on the phone: "That's right! We are not going to let them treat us like we are their relatives and accept whatever they pay us. We are employees just like other workers. We demand reform of our employment status. I will meet Mr. Pakpahan and then we will stage a demonstration at the Hall of Assembly. Whenever possible, we will occupy the building ..."

She sure has learned a lot from the commotion. Now, where do we go from here?

-- Carl Chairul