Regrets for 1996 and resolutions for the new year

Regrets for 1996 and resolutions for the new year

JAKARTA (JP): Government officials, business executives,
professionals, artists and workers were asked by The Jakarta Post
to look back and share a few of their thoughts about 1996. They
were also asked about their hopes and resolutions for the coming
year.

Below are their responses.

Poet and drama actor/director W.S. Rendra said: "The year 1996
has been one of the most splendid ever for me because it's the
time I recovered from a serious illness. Thanks for the good
moment, I'm planning to go for a trip to some European countries
next year to read poems and act."

Singer and composer Titiek Puspa: "What? You're asking me
about 1996? Ha... ha... ha... It has given me a lot of energy to
do all my abundant activities. So far, everything has gone well
and about the year 1997, ha... ha... ha... let's see later."

National Police Chief Lt. Gen. Dibyo Widodo said: "I have
nothing to regret about the past year. It was a momentous year
for me because I was appointed National Police chief in early
1996. My great hope for 1997 is to be able to help make the
general election a big success without serious incident. It's my
jumbo wish."

I want to continue my efforts to encourage all police members
to do their best in serving the public. On New Year's Eve, I
will, as usual, supervise the hectic activities of my personnel
all over the country."

State Minister of Environment Sarwono Kusumaatmadja said: "As
a minister, I hope that offices of the Indonesian Forum for
Environment will be founded nationwide next year."

"I personally have nothing to regret this year."

Noted soothsayer Gendeng Pamungkas said: "One of the most
disappointing things for me in 1996 was the activities of
university students working as 'intelligence dogs'. They
penetrated non-governmental organizations and several
demonstrations, including the one in Germany protesting
violations of laborers' rights and land confiscation. They are
bullshit and their works really hurt me. That's why I hope the
authorities in 1997 can properly handle domestic problems. My
other wish is that 1997 can be a milestone for Indonesian
spiritualists."

Soothsayer Puteri Wong Kam Fu, alias Leoni Fatima, said: "I
experienced one of the biggest regrets in my life this year
(1996), which I can't reveal to anyone. It was personal and
really hurt. As a soothsayer, of course, I know the journey and
future of my life but as a human being I can't stop or get away
from it. It's the wish of Allah, the Almighty. But I hope I have
the power to recover from that experience in 1997. That's my
wish."

Business tycoon Eka Tjipta Widjaja does not dwell on past
unpleasant experiences. He is determined to live for today and
looks forward to the future.

"I don't like to recall unpleasant things. Every day has its
own challenge, that's what we have to keep in mind, not
embarrassing or heartbreaking things," he said.

There is one thing about this year that particularly stands
out in Eka's mind. "That is when I was awarded the Emerging
Market CEO of the year by ING Bank in early October," he said. He
was the first Indonesian to receive the award.

"For 1997, I hope all of my businesses run smoothly and,
hopefully, run even better. Personally, I hope I live long, have
good health and a good life," Eka said.

Indomobil Group's president Soebronto Laras said that 1996 was
a very interesting year for him.

"There are three things in 1996 which quite shocked me, and
all other businesspeople too, I'm sure. Firstly, the dramatic
drop of the Japanese yen at the beginning of the year, which was
followed by the rising of local banks' interest rates.

"But, the most shocking thing was the government's national
car policy, it sure upset the local automotive market ... and
boy, it was a big blow to me," Soebronto said.

For next year, he expects the government to maintain economic
and political stability.

Ciputra, the tycoon and founder of the Jaya Group, said that
he had no regrets in 1996.

"The year 1996 was the happiest in my life because I finished
my 35-year duty as Jaya's chief executive. Furthermore, my health
is very good.

"I hope that next year my fourth child will get married and
I'll have my eighth grandchild. I also hope to maintain my good
health.

"Next year, I intend to give my full concentration to making
sculpture. I plan to spend half of my Sundays making sculptures
because I visit my projects on Sundays. So far, I've produced six
and next year I expect to produce 20 more.

The president of the state-owned domestic telecommunications
carrier PT Telkom, Asman A. Nasution, said: "My single biggest
regret concerning 1996 is the very low penetration of
telecommunications services in Indonesia.

My hope for 1997 is an increase in telephone line density and
provision of telecommunications facilities in remote villages.

Sukmawati Soekarnoputri, daughter of the country's first
president, Sukarno, said: "The matter I regret most this year is
the unhealthy political situation in the country. I hope that
next year there will be substantial political changes."

AIDS counselor Nona Poorooe Utomo cited her disappointment
over the lack of accurate information and education available to
the two most risk-prone groups -- young adults in the prime of
their lives and high school students from average middle class
families.

She also urged government and nongovernment organizations to
work more closely in the prevention of AIDS, which should be
addressed as a public health issue.

Noted basketball promoter Ary Sudarsono said his biggest
regret in 1996 was his breaking away from the Indonesian
Basketball Association.

But he expressed optimism that the association would do better
next year.

The 1996 Olympic gold medalist Rexy Mainaky said that his
biggest regret this year, with partner Ricky Subagja, were his
losses at the China Open and Hong Kong Open.

"We lacked preparation and concentration. But we won the Grand
Prix Finals this year," said Rexy, who got married in October.

"I plan to regain my title in the Japan Open in January and
the All England championships in March."

Purnomo, ojek (motorcycle-taxi) driver in Tangerang, West
Java, said: "I may be one of the unluckiest among the lower-class
people this year because I was ticketed by policemen four times
for violating traffic rules, such as carrying passengers without
helmets. I don't know what to say about my wish for 1997 but I do
hope that God temporarily blinds policemen when I pass in front
of them."