Insolent, New Order style

by Colson on Aug. 21, 2009, under indonesia, politics

I read these headlines about the boy. It would be funny if it weren’t pathetic:

Tommy Soeharto eyes Golkar top post - Jakarta Post, 18.08.09.

Suharto’s ex-convict son plans to lead party – The Australian, 20.08.09.

Tommy Suharto wil Golkar redden (Tommy Suharto wants to save Golkar) – NRC Handelsblad, 20.08.09

Perhaps the guy can’t help it. He has been raised in a family used to pull the strings, to set the rules, to be the law and take the money, after all.  Anyone would get his personality twisted by such kind of education. It’s incurable apparently.

Well, he will not succeed of course. There is only this  hope left for him: some good friend should tell he him he  had better hide  under a stone for the rest of his life.

Wavatar a0z0ra
Aug. 21, 2009

Wrong timing. People are still super mad at him, and he hasn’t do anything about that yet.

Let’s say that if Tommy did a great job at changing his image (donate to charities, do heroic works etc etc), people might (just might!) consider to accept him.

Right now it’s just appalling. No common sense.

Wavatar colson
Aug. 22, 2009

@ aOzOra: Probably you’re right: he doesn’t stand a chance. But a lot of money and an extensive old boys’ network did the trick for Prabowo.He has been – but shouldn’t have been able to – running for vice-president, didn’t he?.

So, we can’t be too sure about the outcome. Fortunately it is a fact though that present day Indonesia is quite different from New Order.

Wavatar calvin
Aug. 22, 2009

if people accept Tommy, it means Indonesians should be awarded with the “history amnesiac nation award”. I’m speechless even to think the possibility that guy could be accepted to society since he’s the reason of Soeharto’s fall of grace (and our nation as well). this is too pathetic that makes it funny.

Wavatar colson
Aug. 23, 2009

@ calvin: The risk of Tommy becoming the next leader of Golkar is fortunately very small – but does not equal zero. All over the world public opinion is whimsical and the collective memory weak.

Yet I trust he will not succeed in the present Indonesian context. What is really appalling however is the man’s amazing impudence and shamelessness.

Wavatar tikno
Aug. 27, 2009

I’m sure Tommy only have a small chance to lead Golkar, because lately I heard the issue that Golkar will upgrade their party rules (AD/ART). Maybe this movement is to inhibit Tommy. In addition, JK seemed skeptical about Tommy’s leadership abilities.

Wavatar colson
Aug. 27, 2009

@tikno: I can’t but agree with you: there will be a lot of opposition against his candidacy. Yet ‘it ain’t over till it’s over’, which hopefully will be very soon.