Resigning is not Indonesian concept of honor, Try says

Resigning is not Indonesian concept of honor, Try says

JAKARTA (JP): Must an official who has committed a major error
during the execution of his authority resign to protect his
honor? Apparently not, according to Vice President Try Sutrisno.

"Resigning is not an element of the Indonesian culture," Try
told executives of AMPI, a youth organization, during a meeting
at his office on Monday.

"When an official commits a mistake, he should be given a
chance to make amends by allowing him to finish his term, rather
than forcing him to resign," Try said, as quoted by AMPI chairman
Widjanarko Puspoyo.

The vice president was commenting on the resignation of
Japanese prime minister Morihiro Hosokawa last week. This event
rekindled questions on whether Indonesian officials should adopt
a similar attitude in accounting for their actions.

Indonesians have a different concept of honor from the
Japanese, who believe in resigning, even in ritual suicide, to
show their responsibility, Try said. "Suicide is not only
prohibited among Indonesians, it is also a major sin."

Hosokawa's resignation provided further incentive to
politicians and students who have been demanding the heads of
Sudomo, the chairman of the Supreme Advisory Council, because of
his apparent involvement in the Rp 1.3 trillion ($620 million)
loan scandal at Bank Pembangunan Indonesia (Bapindo).

They all claim that Sudomo, a long-time close aide of
President Soeharto, should resign to protect his honor and that
of the council whose duty is to advise the head of state.

Sudomo has admitted writing a letter of reference to support
businessman Eddy Tansil's efforts to secure $430 million in loans
from Bapindo when he was coordinating minister of political
affairs and security. There are now allegations that his
involvement went beyond simply writing letters of reference.

Besides the pressure to oust Sudomo, there have also been
calls for the resignation of J.B. Sumarlin, who was finance
minister at the time of the loans were granted, and who is now
chairman of the Supreme Audit Board.

Those who are demanding the resignations have dismissed the
assertion that such an act would be "un-Indonesian." The critics
point out various instances in which resignation was resorted to
during the 49 years since independence, including by vice
presidents Mohammad Hatta and Sultan Hamengkubuwono X. The first
stepped down during his term of office, while the latter turned
down an offer to run for a second term.

Foreign culture

Try insisted that resigning is an element of a foreign
culture, the Antara news agency reported.

"Indonesians need not blindly adopt foreign cultures," he
said, adding that the demand for Sudomo's resignation was
unconstitutional.

"All the activities and terms of government officials should
be executed according to the regulations," he explained.

"But if an official is proven guilty of violating the law, he
will be punished accordingly," Try added.

Widjanarko said Try's statement about the tradition of
resignation among the Japanese was in response to AMPI's
questions on the current situation in Indonesia's bureaucracy.

"There is an increasing demand for our adopting the tradition,
particularly in the wake of the Bapindo scandal," Widjanarko
said.

The AMPI executives reported to Try about its general meeting,
which will take place from June 28 to July 3 in Central Java.

The organization has asked Try to open the meeting, which will
be attended by around 1,700 people. (lem/emb)