The message: Pick a new presidential candidate

The message: Pick a new presidential candidate

President Soeharto reminded the nation recently that he would
be 77 years old when the People's Consultative Assembly convenes
in 1998 to choose a new president. Political scientist Riswandha
Imawan tries to interpret the meaning of this statement.

YOGYAKARTA (JP): Lee Kon Choi, formerly Singapore's Ambassador
to Indonesia, wrote Indonesia Between Myth and Reality in 1976.
In his book, he tried to penetrate the Javanese way of thinking,
which he believes must have been at the root of the Indonesian
elite's patterns of thought.

He recorded many mystical episodes in his book, but -- in a
nutshell -- he conveyed the message that the behavior of our
people is influenced by things unseen. The obsession to maintain
harmony, to refrain from hurting others and to adopt a refined
attitude have made straightforward expressions taboo. Everything
should be concealed in a veiled fashion.

Hence, symbols and body language feature prominently in
people-to-people relationships. This also applies to the
Indonesian political scene.

How to survive in this world? There are only two ways to
improve the accuracy of reading people's hidden messages.

First, to immerse oneself into the Javanese world of ideas.
Second, to merge with the elite circle in order to familiarize
oneself with their way of expressing themselves and social
behavior.

Of the two methods, the second one has more adherents. It is
related with the basic concept of power in the Javanese political
culture. The crucial issue is "how to accumulate power", not "how
to exercise power". There has never been two "suns" shining on
the earth. This explains the behavior of our political elite, who
always seemed to be pushed by a need to draw closer to the center
of power.

This very need gives birth to the widely-known expression of
frog-style swimming attributed to the social attitude of the
elite. They worship those in higher positions while harming their
colleagues and kicking their subordinates down. Patronage culture
is deeply rooted in Indonesian politics.

This contradicts the obsession for subtlety and refinement in
the Javanese culture. The contradiction emerges because most
people choose the second way, to strive to be as close as
possible to the center of power.

If we were to follow the first way, immersing ourselves in the
nature of the Javanese mind, harmony would have been truly
manifested.

It is in this mode of thought that we should be interpreting
President Soeharto's statement made on May 29, 1996 in the
Central Java town of Demak. He said that when the People's
Consultative Assembly convenes in 1998 to elect a president, he
would be 77 years old, adding that this fact should be taken into
consideration.

What lies behind these words? Observers agree that Soeharto's
prowess lies in his ability to blend "Javanese rationale" with
"Western rationale." The sole nature of this strength drives us
further into confusion.

But this time, I believe, the two rationales boil down into a
plea that we should not hesitate in pushing forward another
presidential candidate.

In my opinion, the very message reflected Soeharto's proven
quality as a statesman. He is convinced that out of 197 million
Indonesians, there must be one who is qualified to be handed the
baton of leadership.

He shows a consistency in his fight against a personality
cult. Challenges facing this nation are so awesome that it is
highly illogical to leave these matters to a person in his golden
years. It is just as illogical as pitting Mohammed Ali against
Mike Tyson in the boxing ring.

Soeharto's statement unveiled his profound love for the future
of this nation. It is obvious by now that Soeharto, who is
totally immersed in Javanese culture, has been the subject of a
political elite who employed the second way by attempting to draw
closer and closer to him. This has created an invisible network
of dependency among the elite circles close to Soeharto.

Alas, when Soeharto conveyed his message, the elite was caught
by surprise and was at a loss as to what should be done.

Should they initiate a new coalition? If so, with whom?

They were even more confused because Soeharto did not appoint
a successor or gave any hint as to what type of a person he would
like to have as a successor.

Hitherto, the members of the elite group have been "swimming
downstream" -- deeply absorbed in their worship of people with
more power than theirs -- while forgetting that one day the "sun"
will cease to shine.

They have forgotten that man has its limits.

Soeharto's message is a reminder for those who have forgotten
this truth.

It is now up to us -- the younger generation -- to heed or to
ignore it.

The writer is a lecturer of political science at the Gadjah
Mada University.