The Tommy syndrome

The fairy tale-like story of Tommy Soeharto's progress to fame and wealth as the youngest son of former president Soeharto, and now for a week or so perhaps the police's most wanted man, is known to every school child.

Too much comment has been made on the legal aspects of the case and the tragic, comical role played by the lawyers when at the most critical stage in the man-hunt they pretended not to know the whereabouts of the "crown prince"; they seemed to also forget all of Tommy's cellular phone numbers! The Police were too slow to react, the Attorney General was waiting for the police, and the district court judge forgot the key of the drawer where he was supposed to have hidden the presidential order denying Tommy's request for clemency.

If Johan Strauss, or Frans Lehar, George Bizet, Jerome Kern, or even our own Ismail Marzuki were still alive, they might be inspired to compose an operetta. But for an opera somebody needs to be stabbed or shot dead and this, thank God, has not happened yet.

Some editorials described Tommy as a coward when he refused to account for his misdeeds and, instead of graciously surrendering and entering the prison cell, sought refuge somewhere. Believe me, there is no safer place than in prison and his lawyers would do well to inspect the daily menu and find out whether he will be allowed to bring his spring bed and favorite dog.

All I can say about Tommy is that he is a spoiled child. No wonder given the fact that he has been allowed for so long to set up an unlimited number of companies and allowed to hold monopolies and enjoy state credits. But he apparently missed his opportunity to be educated like the son of a hero. He probably also rarely, if ever, read the biographies of great and valiant patriots. He has never learned to accept defeat. His parents should have told him of the many great people in human history who had failed, like Galileo not to mention Columbus.

He has never visited the slums of Bombay and Rio de Janeiro. Nothing and nobody stood in the way. He should have been repeatedly exposed to the miseries and abject poverty and hunger suffered by the majority of the people. The lesson that there are more people suffering in life than enjoying their wealth should have been part of his education. It's all right that he likes to race expensive cars but he should also be taught how to care for the downtrodden.

It is indeed sinful to become rich and powerful alone by all possible means, even by violating the law. This is a lesson for parents who can afford to give everything to their children but who never remind them of the people's suffering. This nation lacks young men of character who can accomplish much for themselves and for other people as well.

GANDHI SUKARDI

Jakarta