Why not learn from history?
Why not learn from history?
The fall of all our governments, since independence, have been
prompted by their abuse of the public's aspirations. It was the
Sept. 30 movement (G30S) and the involvement of the Indonesian
Communist Party (PKI) -- cursed by the people -- that brought the
Old Order down.
The New Order regime crashed because it was not responsive
enough to public demands for civilian supremacy. The next
government had to "release" East Timor and subsequently got
Indonesia labeled a colonialist country, which is in direct
contradiction to the preamble of the 1945 Constitution, which
clearly states Indonesia's stance against colonialism.
The next government's wish to open diplomatic relations with
Israel was not well received by most of the country's Muslims.
From here onward, various efforts to remove the president were
exerted, starting from issues on his health, the misuse of funds
and so forth.
The current government is also being tested. Will it be able
to accommodate public aspirations? The news about the
government's wish to send military troops to Afghanistan to join
the United Nations force is not well received by religious
nationalists who intend to help the people of Afghanistan in
their fight against imperialism in all its forms.
The government's attitude is considered less sympathetic
toward the mysterious death of the charismatic Papuan leader,
Theys Hiyo Eluay, which has been linked to the military.
The following are just a few of the long list of abuses of the
people's aspirations: Rampant corruption, collusion and nepotism.
The special committee on Buloggate II that has yet to exist. The
paralyzed law enforcement. The warm embrace given to Tommy
Soeharto by the city police chief that made it look like a staged
arrest. The rise in various rates -- placing further costs on the
already burdened public -- approved by the House of
Representatives (DPR), whose members were involved in a brawl,
though not for defending or representing the public's
aspirations.
As all these are the stumbling blocks for any government, my
suggestion is to just read our history and learn from it. This
will be reflected in the future by the voice of the electorate in
the coming election.
SUKANTO
Jakarta