Riddles solved

As I stared at the harbor lights -- the stars were invisible -- moments before the world entered 1999 -- I believed I had the answers to some of the riddles confronting the nation today.

First, there is the hunt for the treasures of former president Soeharto. It has, according to prediction, slowed down and been distracted by other issues and minor personalities.

The antireform current has become so strong and tangible that it has caused an influential leader like Abdurrahman Wahid to venture out and call for a national dialog involving the former president himself, who should have stood trial long ago.

Influential reform leader Amien Rais has likened the process to a soap opera. He seems to be suspicious that Abdurrahman Wahid is offering a truce.

Of course, in that case, the reform movement may react strongly in protest. Abdurrahman Wahid, is sensing that the antireform camp is targeting his followers as its victims, as in the case of the Banyuwangi murders, and he wants to make an end to it all by a quick means and with some speculation.

Still, he should not ignore other forces, like the Amien Rais or Megawati Soekarnoputri camps or the National Front or Ali Sadikin groups.

I suspect that "the other side" will also get suspicious as to the real motives of Abdurrahman Wahid's maneuvers. Hence, its reflection by Habibie, another national riddle has become more openly available for guesswork. The one or ones among Functional Group's (Golkar's) ranks, or the incumbent, who are eying the country's top positions. So far, all the preparations in that direction, such as campaigning and vote gathering activities, have been done in silence if not in secret.

A Golkar leading figure has indicated that President Habibie may opt for reelection, something that has been officially out of the question since his main mission should be just to guide the nation or political parties, not himself, to the general election. He seems to like his present job, and plans to continue his service to the nation by increasing the salaries of government employees. Facing the nation in 1999 are economic and political issues which both deserve priority, while the one solution depends on the other for lasting effects.

Unless a truly democratic government is elected, the international community will be reluctant to risk investments in development projects with long-term yields. The economy cannot be ordered to stop until the elections are over. The stomach of the poor and the habits of the rich cannot wait.

Therefore, the moral and political duty of this interim administration should be that factories keep producing and export keep flowing. How tragic indeed, that after 50 years of independence, there are more people unemployed, more getting hungry, more school children dropping out, more people getting confused and brutal while corruption persists. I have the impression that everyone and every group is still trying to fish in murky waters. Of course -- as you guessed correctly -- except for the students, who still plead for democracy and justice and human rights on behalf of the people's conscience, unselfish and undaunted.

The year 1999 may see the resurrection of their true spirit and idealism displayed again before the eyes of the cameras.

GANDHI SUKARDI

Jakarta