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“I read the news today oh boy”
For John Lennon ( “A Day in the Life” ) the news was about a lucky man who made the grade, a guy who blew his mind out in a car and four thousand holes in Blackburn, Lancashire. But guess what was in the papers today? What were the headlines shouting? What do they think is the most urgent problem the world should know?
Yes indeed, you’re right:
The Guardian:”Republican convention thrown into chaos by hurricane Gustav”
The New York Times:”Republicans drop most Monday Convention action”
The Los Angelos Times: “Hurricane Gustav bears down on empty New Orleans”
Frankfurter Algemeine: “McCain: Wir müssen wie Amerikaner handeln’ (Mc Cain’s comment on Gustav: ‘We must act like Americans’)
Le Monde: “John McCain: investiture par temps d’ouragan” (John McCain: In Office by Hurricane)
You see? Everything is political. Even a tropical storm. In as long it is an American storm.
But to me it seems to be plain injustice if because of Gustav THIS political news of today would go relatively unnoticed by the world: “Indonesia seizes funds from Suharto family firm“. And on top of that: “Indonesia to examine more of Suharto’s son assets“
Because this is food for optimism.
A court in Guernsey did rule in favor of the Indonesian state to freeze some € 35 million on an account of the notorious Tommy Suharto. The government filed a new request on further disclosure of the assets of “Garnet Investment” , in it’s ongoing attempt to reclaim more embezzlement money from the Suharto family. This action came after last Friday the Bank Mandiri had been ordered to transfer approximately € 90 million from Timor Putra Nasional ( the not so very solid car company which has been sold to Vista Bella Pratama by Tommy Suharto) to a government account, minister Sri Mulyani Imdrawati said.
Scepsis always comes in handy, but the fact remains that corruption obviously is high on the Indonesian political agenda. Even if it turns out there is an opportunistic connection with next year’s elections – according to the polls SBY has to do his utmost to gain more popular support to have a chance to beat Megawati- I think this news is important ánd good news. A rare combination.
Update: Another successful example of anti graft policies: “The Corruption Court sentenced disgraced prosecutor Urip Tri Gunawan to 20 years in jail Thursday for taking a US$660,000 bribe to drop a major embezzlement case against fugitive tycoon Sjamsul Nursalim” (quoted from the Jakarta Post, 09/05/2008)
Indonesia, a Jilbab Democracy?
Henk Schulte Nordholt ends his book (“Indonesia na Suharto, reformasi en restauratie“, 2008;ISBN 978 90 351 31354 ) with a quote by Ben Mboi, ex governor of Nusa Tenggara Timur: “Indonesia is like the Titanic. The only difference is that Indonesia keeps on sinking without perishing“.
I can say it at the outset: this is solid but tasty contemporary history. Preceded by two chapters on the Sukarno era and the Suharto’s New Order, it is mainly about the last ten turbulent years of Indonesia. An easy, informative and pleasant read, despite the thorough and scrupulous scientific approach the author took. It contains a lot of relevant facts ( of course), quite a number of new and refreshing insights ( at least to this reader) and useful matter-of-fact debunking of a number of myths, plus a general conclusion which leaves a lot of doubt about Indonesia’s future as a democracy. Read More
Partai Pelopor!
Two weeks ago the general elections committee, KPU, made it known that over 30 parties will be allowed to participate in the Indonesian 2009 elections. Sixteen of them automatically and the rest, the new ones, after recent approval.
Well, I bet Golkar will win. And SBY will be the reelected president for his second term.
But look, for those Indonesians who support this blog there is an alternative. A small party, two seats in Parliament now, led by Rachmawati ( daughter of Sukarno and not so beloved sister of Megawati) who claims to stick to the heritage of the left wing policies of the first Indonesian president, without any real political program I know of, but definitely the party with the best name of all 34 parties involved. Here and there is virtual proof of the existence of Partai Pelopor.
Check it out:
“The 16 parties that were automatically approved are Partai Golkar, Partai Demokrasi Indonesia Perjuangan, Partai Kebangkitan Bangsa, Partai Persatuan Pembangunan, Partai Demokrat, Partai Keadilan Sejahtera, Partai Amanat Nasional, Partai Bintang Reformasi, Partai Bulan Bintang, Partai Demokrasi Kebangsaan, Partai Damai Sejahtera, Partai Karya Peduli Bangsa, Partai Persatuan Demokrasi Indonesia, Partai Pelopor, Partai Nasional Indonesia Marhaenisme and Partai Persatuan Demokrasi Indonesia.”
Pelopor. Left wing. Mmm. Could be worse.
The Mochtar Lubis Awards
It’s not unusual a nation pays honour to great sons and daughters. So I can’t quite explain why these footprints in cement in Jakarta astonished me at the time. There they were: the small toes of Megawati. And the feet of other presidents, starting with those of the real hero, the father, the founder of the nation, Soekarno. The prints of his sturdy feet convinced me they could carry the weight of a major country. And because Bung Karno loved a show of entertainment, this Hollywood style of being immortalized fitted him perfectly well.
But I think there should be a hall of fame for Indonesian journalists as well. For those who carried the banner of the independent, daring, brave, “free floating intelligence†(a concept Karl Mannheim coined long ago in ’22, by the way). Actually Indonesian history shows a tradition of critical, investigative journalists. Some of them I know by their publications ( in translation) which are on my bookshelves. In that way they are friends. Pals who, in my opinion, deserve to be remembered – at least no less then some of the politicians.
It’s about time for Mochtar Lubis Awards. A prize for outstanding Indonesian journalists. Talented writers with independent, inquisitive minds.