To Pak Harto

To Pak Harto

From Media Indonesia

Praise God, the puzzle haunting the minds of many Indonesians for such a long time has finally been solved. The brilliantly conceived friendly visit to former president Soeharto by President Abdurrahman Wahid has revealed the true state of Soeharto's health. Pak Harto is healthy. When Soeharto was present during the Idul Adha (Day of Sacrifice) commemoration at the grandiose At-Tien Mosque in Taman Mini Indah Indonesia, he looked radiant. (It is said that this mosque was built by Soeharto's family as a monument to the late Tien Soeharto).

We Indonesian people should be grateful to God for His granting of good health to Soeharto. We all hoped that Pak Harto would be in good health after his stroke. It is therefore of the utmost importance that Soeharto utilizes the new lease on life bestowed upon him by God the Almighty to carry out deeds that benefit the people.

We know that Soeharto is a Muslim who knows the meaning of amar ma'ruf nahi mungkar (close to goodness, far from prohibitions). We also know his relatives, children and cronies have saddled the country with many problems of finance and debt. This is the time for Pak Harto to demonstrate the attitude of a Muslim who has enjoyed a long life bestowed upon him by God. He should fill the rest of his life with deeds that benefit the millions of Indonesians who suffer dreadfully from hardship and bankruptcy.

God will be merciful and give guidance to those who sincerely repent their mistakes.

We, the majority of the people in this country, wait with great hope.

ACHMAD SOLIHIN

Cibinong, West Java