Taking the wrong cues from the U.S.
Taking the wrong cues from the U.S.
From Rakyat Merdeka
Indonesians consist of people dwelling in areas stretching from Sabang to Merauke and people who are no longer concerned by the issue of ethnic differences, for example because of interethnic marriage.
They know that Indonesia has been an independent unitary state for 54 years and that they are Indonesians. To them Indonesia is a group of islands stretching along the equator.
Yet there is also a handful of people who are members of the political elite. They provoke regional people into taking separatist action that will end up in national disintegration. To us, on the one hand, the political elite seems to be progressive minded. They may have been educated abroad, such as in the United States, and they would like to model our country upon the United States.
On the other hand, however, these people have caused backwardness in our nation. They seem to be unaware of the fact that Southeast Asian countries have set up ASEAN, European countries their European Union and countries in Asia and the Pacific, APEC.
The elite would like to set up a federal state, which is actually inappropriate for this country. They are advocating it in the name of the people while the action is actually in pursuit of their political ambition. Or, perhaps, the members of the political elite are the lackeys of imperialist powers or perhaps the henchmen of the countries where they used to stay and study.
Why have they never thought of calling on all people to unite and help the reform government under Abdurrahman Wahid and Megawati Soekarnoputri? They should explain to the people that the present government is a reform government. This government was set up after the collapse of the corrupt New Order regime, which was notorious for trampling upon people's rights.
Why not do this for the people. Explain to the people that the new government will lead us all to a New Indonesia. This government will place popular sovereignty in the place it deserves. It is based on democracy and upholding justice. Besides, it is not tainted by corruption, collusion and nepotism.
The New Indonesia will never come into being with only Gus Dur or Megawati along. It will take the entire nation to establish a New Indonesia. The key in this Herculean task is unity. Then all national components from the central to the regional levels should restructure our state. In this way, injustice no longer be found in Indonesia, in all aspects of life. Let us solve our national problems within the framework of Indonesian nationalism.
SOEBAGIO SAFRI
Jakarta