What's going on?
What's going on?
Even without the outbreaks of violence, developments in
Indonesia have received vivid interest from the media and the
Australian public. They seem to be as confused as the Indonesians
living here. They could not believe that the Indonesian National
Police chief could summon the President of the country to appear
on the witness stand of a criminal or civil court while the
President himself is the head of the National Police.
Many here see the President as contributing to the confusion
and problems faced by Indonesia today. Why should President
Abdurrahman Wahid, or Gus Dur, spend two months of his seven or
eight months in office traveling overseas while the country is in
turmoil? Suwondo, the wizard of a masseur who can disappear into
thin air with his stolen money, remains fresh in the minds of
every Australian interested in Indonesian affairs.
As I am preparing to return home, a writer at an Australian
daily has revealed that the President's health has worsened in
the last three months. He used to fall asleep more during
important meetings.
In a sense, the announcement made by the President putting the
riot-torn province of Maluku under a state of civil emergency has
been seen as an encouraging development, although perhaps too
late to be really effective. But why not a military state of
emergency, as the situation calls for urgent and drastic
measures, not just half-measures.
There have been suggestions by certain quarters in the
province, mostly Christians, to place Maluku under United Nations
supervision with the forces of the United States taking part.
It is shameful that a country with such a lofty ideology and
supposed way of living under its Constitution has tragically
failed to live up to the expectations of the civilized world.
The smallest disturbance, riot or even an act of vandalism is
immediately reported by the world press. The impression received
by capital investors is, regretfully, still of a chaotic and
untrustworthy Indonesia.
Sometimes, I even doubt if prayer is enough to change the
situation, if nothing else and nobody else succeeds.
GANDHI SUKARDI
Perth, Australia