RI needs true statesmen

RI needs true statesmen

From Rakyat Merdeka

The key to the welfare and prosperity of a nation lies in the wisdom of a statesman. A leader and a statesman must both be wise.

When a politician gains public support and reaches the apex of power, he has legitimacy as a statesman, morally, intellectually and spiritually. So he must not remain a politician, especially if he can count on the support of his own group.

The condition in Indonesia is quite alarming because, in our opinion, there are no Indonesian leaders capable of being statesmen. Our leaders are only group leaders who work in the interest of their groups. They practice extortion in the name of both the people and the state as they are simply the slaves to power.

When a statesman makes a decision which will concern the fate of the people, he will do it after weighing the matter rationally, spiritually and emotionally. In this way he does things wisely.

Meanwhile, what we are witnessing in this conflict-ridden country is that the decisions and the acts of the leaders are focused only their emotional considerations. They usually ignore the rational and spiritual considerations. It is not surprising, therefore, that their decisions will only make the people live in greater poverty and deeper misery.

Worse still, our leaders no longer care that their decisions may benefit only their groups but are detrimental to others.

What will happen to this country if it remains under a non- statesman-like leader? Very clearly it is heading towards its doom. Who has committed the most heinous crime: Abdurrahman Wahid, Megawati, Amien Rais or Akbar Tandjung?

It is not easy to be a statesman, especially given the present multi-dimensional conflict. Armed with honesty and sincerity, plus reasoning and mental as well as spiritual considerations, we can surely face anything.

DJIWANDONO

Bekasi, West Java