T

em>These are comments on the Oct. 2 The Jakarta Post website article entitled '€œJokowi rejects apology, promotes stability'€.

Reconciliation will be impossible without a formal government apology. Truth and reconciliation can only take place if they are framed upon the explicit idea that what happened was wrong and that a universal feeling of regret should accompany its recollection. It is simply missing the point if this doesn'€™t happen and the process will simply become an exercise.

This government has more to prove to the world than most at this point in time so it is in its own interest to not make this look like another Indonesian face-saving moment whose message is believed by locals but not by others, followed by the delusion that the rest of the world'€™s opinion is of no matter or effect. This is serious, not just for the families of the victims but for everyone (though obviously this process is for the families first and foremost, or at least should be).

'€œWhat we need to do right now is keep [the victims'€™] children and grandchildren [safe] from being burdened by history.'€

Somebody needs to help this guy understand the difference between an aim and an objective, and which of the two are more effective in accurate and positive outcomes. Saying something fluffy like this sounds great as a general aim but gives no details as to how it will be done and what outcomes are envisaged. This produces two ideas:

1. That the government does not have the capacity to understand the sheer depth of suffering and discrimination these people and their families went and go through, nor how to properly implement strategies that will keep them safe now, or

2. that the government is not serious at all about truth and reconciliation and uses a generality of language devices to escape future culpability of failure, which it might foresee, if it takes the matter seriously.

Clearly, these points are not mutually exclusive and once again the stench of lame, lackluster and impotent arguments are emanating from the political will of a country with everything to hide and nothing to economically gain short term by looking even slightly remorseful or culpable. This is a dysfunctional leadership harboring a dysfunctional and damaging mentality.

L. Millar
Jakarta

I don'€™t take lightly any of the tragedies that occurred in 1965; it was a horrific time and a terrible experience for millions of Indonesians. The question I have to ask is: Why does this government need to apologize? It is not the government that is at fault or responsible; it is the individuals (men and women) who executed these heinous acts that need to apologize.

Soeharto was the one who led these efforts, and he has passed away. As much and for as many reasons I have faults with the current administration, I don'€™t blame it for 1965. Reconciliation is really the way forward '€” accepting things were wrongful and working to fix that is better than an '€œI'€™m sorry'€ and doing
nothing.

IH