Stop using 'Cendana'

From Bisnis Indonesia

My family lived at Jalan Cendana No. 5 from 1942 to 1982. In 1982, Mr. Soeharto's family bought the house.

I object to the current practice of the media to use the word "Cendana" to refer to Soeharto and his family. Some examples include: "Tracing Cendana's wealth" and "Cendana's team of lawyers".

Since Soeharto family's moved into the area in 1967, the residents of Jalan Cendana have endured their fair share of suffering, both in the material and in the social sense, as a result of their 31-year presence.

When our grandmother died in 1967, for example, we had to apply for a special permit to organize a religious service. Since then, the neighborhood's residents have always had to ask for permits to hold parties. Fed up with the complicated procedure, the neighborhood finally refrained from celebrating anything.

People wishing to visit families living on Jl. Cendana had to stop at the end of the street to be checked by security personnel (a monetary gift was often a necessity). Only then were they allowed to walk to their destination. The guards' behavior often disturbed the residents' sense of privacy.

On the other hand, the Soeharto family -- in the name of the state -- frequently held parties and their neighbors had to accept such disruptions as their "sacrifice" for the New Order.

Pressure was applied on some residents to sell their houses to the Soeharto family, which was apparently not satisfied with living in just one house. Gradually, the first family expanded to neighboring streets: Jl. Waringin, Jl. Rasamala and JL. Tanjung.

The use of the word "Cendana" to refer to the Soeharto family is popular in our community. This practice should be stopped.

Considering the experience of Jl. Cendana's residents, I think our president should no longer be allowed to conduct state affairs from his private home.

DEBRA H. YATIM

Jakarta