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