Reform commotion: Where do we go from here?
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