Riddles solved
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