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Forum: PKS and Soeharto
Tue, 11/25/2008 11:20 AM | Reader's Forum
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
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Andikusumah (not verified) — Tue, 12/02/2008 - 5:35am
Soeharto named as Indonesia's Father of Development is out of mind. Where did the money come from? Most of them were from our Indonesian rich resources - black gold and minerals. The development had been centered in the west part of Indonesia, but east parts of Indonesia are still far from development. This clearly indicates a figure of father that is not as what expected.
Delvi's view is definitely true. That time most of Indonesians, which felt more secure, had been offered subsidy. However, only some that enjoyed the most privilege treatment - Soeharto's cronies.
For fulfilling daily needs, such subsidy would help, so that there were not many beggars as now. But, we should not look at only that factor. Where were the freedoms - human rights - at the time when Soeharto was in his tenure? There were none. I agree with Tian about this.
The view of Ric shows there is lack of understanding of the cause that downed the economy of Indonesia in 1998. The down fall of economy was not because of the move of student rallying and demanding Soeharto to step down. At that time, the financial crisis had occurred in other country, Thailand, before in Indonesia. In following, it had happened to almost entire Asian countries. Systemic Risk in financial system is the right answer. Would the exchange rate be lower than now if Soeharto had not been stepped down by people power? You could not answer it by simply stating that it was because the riot had happened that time. With or without Soeharto at that time would be similar. Before Soeharto stepped down ashamedly, the exchange rate has doubled 200%, from Rp. 2.400 to around Rp. 7.000. You cannot blame students for the riot. The riot is just a result of how Soeharto treats Indonesians unequally. They were tired of being treated like that. Were you, Ric? Where were you at that time?
If a father tortured some of his sons with cruelty, and only pay attention a lot to his only golden son, but not the other generally, should we call him a father? I don't think so. So I don't think Soeharto is a father of development.
Akhyari (not verified) — Wed, 11/26/2008 - 10:57am
I favour the past than now. Simple, we really do not need this democracy. We used to be a country to watch and emulate, now we are a country to avoid. Why? Because of this too-much freedom. It is ok if you use your freedom without violating anyone's right. But then ? everything is messy now.
We used to be a corrupt country, now? even more corrupt..even committed by people in their young age. Now, everyone here likes to mock at their own homeland, because of what? too much freedom given.
We have more poor people now, just like the condition during Sukarno Era, and now people tends to put Soekarno as a real hero, much better than Suharto.
Build our economy and education first, then we'll know which is good which is not...this will only be achieved by working hard, stop talking, stop mocking. If not, dont even dream that this democracy and freedom will lead us to prosperity.
Peter Link (not verified) — Tue, 11/25/2008 - 6:45pm
Wake up Tian,
Just think about how Jakarta could do business if there were no toll roads? Wake up - Soeharto put the infrastructure in place - Nothing has happened since. Jakarta is going backwards.