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Your letters: Warning for Jokowi
President-elect Joko âJokowiâ Widodo now faces total war with no allies except the people â if they mobilize
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resident-elect Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo now faces total war with no allies except the people ' if they mobilize.
My hope and prayer is that the people realize that what is happening is that the New Order is being restored in stages and fighting back tooth and claw.
It was the people that got Jokowi elected when the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDP-I) could not be bothered and the people that kept the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) alive when the powers wanted it scrapped.
Also, the government is making no secret of its intent to restore the New Order era and live off tax money for life; virtually no pretense at all now.
They are acting like lords and barons saying, 'But we are your betters and you owe us the life to which we have become accustomed.'
So it's pretty clear what is going on.
The public do not like it either. I haven't had time to query the locals on their thoughts yet ' I'm on the move these days ' but there is a sense that the government cannot and will not get away with it.
This was a major step too far and totally against the will of the people. Jokowi is also popular enough to rally the people too, although I would avoid fuel price increases until Jokowi has solidified his political position.
He has a weak hand now.
Jokowi must now run an investigation into 1998 and those who are found guilty should be imprisoned.
If that doesn't happen then Jokowi faces an Abdurrahman 'Gus Dur' Wahid situation and, should he be ousted on a vote of no confidence, he faces a possible trial on trumped up charges of (say) child molestation. Check the records for 1998 Jokowi, and fast!
I am a mild-mannered man who does not seek vengeance. But I recognize self-defense and the point where it becomes kill or be killed; politically speaking, of course.
But prison would work. Given the military style of Indonesian politics, such a show of sheer raw, merciless strength would probably have quite an impact on the parties and go down well with the public who want a strong leader.
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