Soeharto has defined himself as Indonesia's Bapak Pembangunan (Father of Development). For that he is supposed to be called a hero. A national hero at that. Yes, we used to get respect and admiration as one of the tigers of the Asian economic miracle and were praised by other countries.
Yet, what has he actually built? What has he developed? Who really benefited from the burgeoning economy during his long tenure? Don't be blinded by the nostalgia, the luxury was only enjoyed by a privileged few.
It's enough for us to live in a tiger's mouth for 32 years, I am just not ready to spend more years in a crocodile's. As for PKS, I have to credit them for their pragmatism, they are smart.
Most importantly, the Soeharto Bapak Bangsa ads will get PKS bonus votes from that former dictator's supporters. Everybody knows Soeharto's worshipers must be Golkar's supporters? Despite its Islamic ideology, PKS can always argue that Soeharto has done something for the nation regardless his bloody hands.
Indonesia seems to be the biggest apologist nation on earth. So, Golkar is losing the war and PKS (at this moment) is gaining the point.
It is apparent that in Indonesia's political parties do not have to stick to a certain ideology to woo voters. They are no more than brokers on the stock market, acting on trends.
No ideology, no identity. The danger is, well, look at what has befallen our country now, we are doomed to have rulers with no vision -- a complete disappointment.
DELVI
Jakarta
With today's economic situation what we need is not a democratic president, nor a republican. Instead we need a dictator for Indonesia, like Soeharto.
Democracy is only for pure educated people, especially when that education is recognized worldwide, not just in Indonesia.
We all know that although almost all Indonesians go to primary and high school and even universities. However, students minds and mentalities are worse than a six-year-old, always demonstrating, knowing that the demonstrations are only a waste of time and will cause heavy traffic jams.
Basically, what is happening in Indonesia, especially the terrible downfall of the rupiah, is caused by its own citizens. If only the riots did not bring down Soeharto in 1998, today's U.S. exchange rate would not be in a big mess. Nevertheless, during Soeharto's regime, we dared to say there were less beggars and fewer unemployed compared to today.
RIC
Jakarta
Yes, economically we were doing good, but then during the Soeharto regime there was no press freedom, artistic creativity, and our bookstores have since been filled with what was considered to be really, really sensitive material.
These are freedom that we have started to take for granted today. It's democracy, my brother. The Islamists have the same rights to voice their opinion as the secularists, the Chinese now have a voice in our society, what else? It's dynamic, and some are ruder than others, but hey, its better this way than not at all.
Yes, we had thriving economic development during Soeharto's regime, but it took less than one year of economic crisis to bring him down. This unequal, corrupt, and 'empty' economic development is Soeharto's bargain for our silence to his brutal regime.
And please check out the exact nominal wealth value that Soeharto and his family, as well as a number of cronies, accumulated during the New Order era. If that does not make you angry, then either you don't know basic math or you don't have feelings left in your heart.
TIAN
Jakarta
| 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|