8 Oct
Wiping The Slate Clean?
It's only a couple of weeks since the Muslim fasting month of Ramadhan ended with Idul Fitri. 'Fitrah' means a (re)beginning as humans, which is why Indonesians walk up to all and sundry and say "Mohon ma'af lahir dan batin". Cynics (moi?) have long translated this as "Please accept my apologies for what I may have done (to you) in the past year and for what I'm going to do in the next year."
It hasn't taken long for this has quickly proven to be a truism.
Whilst some of us have been emotionally drawn to assist in the wake of West Sumatra's devastating earthquakes (1), others have been drawn to the trough of plenty.
SBY has complained angrily about local governments which have submitted assessments of financial losses over emergency relief measures to help quake victims.(2)
Airlines have laid on umpteen more flights with full loads of relief personnel with their equipment as well as grieving families. However, to this commentator among others, it beggars belief that some, if not all, of these airlines have tripled fares to Padang citing 'supply and demand'.
Elsewhere, the new parliament has been installed with great pomp and extravagence. The public at large has decried this, thus forcing some of the new legislators to say that they will donate their first month's salary to relief funds. This is, of course, no big deal as they have five years to capitalise on thir positions, and manoeverings are taking place to secure seats on the various commissions which will serve as the buffers between lobbyists and the ultimate decision makers, the people's elected representatives.
SBY has yet to be reinaugurated as President, so his new government has not been announced, but there are significant signs that the democratic process which has been lauded internationally as demonstrating that such ideals are possible in a predominantly Muslim country is but a sham.
To be fair, what is happening here is not peculiar to Indonesia. I've always thought that whoever you vote for, the government gets in, and in most countries cronyism and nepotism are the entrance keys. So, it must be acknowledged that SBY is not the first political leader to create a dynasty.
The USA has had its Kennedys and Bushes; Greece has just elected the son and grandson of prime ministers as their new prime minister; Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka have their Bhuttos, Ghandis and Banderanikes – and the list goes on.
SBY's has three brothers-in-law in high military positions. Lt. Gen. Erwin Sujono is Military Chief of General Affairs, Maj. Gen. Suryo Prabowo is the Jakarta Military Commander and Maj. Gen. Edhie Wibowo is commander of the notorious Army special forces, Kopassus. His eldest son, Army Captain Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono, is currently completing his master's degree at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government. Once he graduates, his rapid rise through the army ranks is virtually guaranteed given his family connections and word is that he is being groomed as a future president. Meanwhile, SBY's second son, Eddie Baskoro, is a neophyte in the legislature.
Given the parliamentary majority of SBY's Parti Demokrasi and coalition partners (those parties which did not put up candidates in July's presidential) losing parties are grabbing opportunities to jump on the gravy train. Ex-president Megawati's husband, Taufik Kiemas, has just been 'elected' Speaker of the People's Representative Group, even though the people rejected Megawati's PDI-P at the general election in March. Their daughter, Putu, is another neophyte in the legislature.
The other major party to lose heavily in the general election was Suharto's 'functional group', Golkar. Ignoring events elsewhere in Sumatra, they have been holding an 'ugly' congress in Palmbang to elect a new leader to replace the out-going Vice President Yusuf Kalla. The two main candidates were Abdurizal Bakrie, of Lapindo Brantas mudflow infamy, and media mogul Suryo Paloh. Bakrie wants Golkar to cling to power by entering SBY's new government, and Paloh suggested that Golkar should regroup as a parliamentary opposition.
Bakrie won because he threw more money at the voting delegates. The public will not be fooled and recognises that for a democracy to have some credence checks and balances are needed, so Paloh was the generally respected candidate.
The one glimmer of hope is that Tommy Suharto, son of the late detested dictator and convicted murderer, got no votes. Mind you, neither did the other candidate Yuddy Chrisnandi. He couldn't afford to dispense any largesse.
And so it goes.
(1) I'm continuing to update information of how you can help – here.
Feel free to link and/or email me if you want me to add anything.
(2) This is not the final earthquake to hit the coast of West Sumatra and, according to an article in the New Scientist, 'the big one' could hit at any time – "All it will take to trigger it is the pressure of a handshake," says John McCloskey, a seismologist at the Environmental Sciences Research Institute at the University of Ulster in Coleraine, Northern Ireland.
It therefore behooves the appropriate authorities to prepare rather than repair.
You wrote “the democratic process [...] is but a sham.”
We respectfully beg to differ.
We’d say: welcome to democracy.
Just like you said, this is no different elsewhere.
Isn’t it just the same as a son of a businessman become a businessman, a daughter of an actress become an actress, etc?
It’s what they see all their life and that’s where they have the most network. The barrier of entry is hence lower.
Why should a child of a politician be restricted to go into politics just because of who his/her parents are?
The difference that democracy should bring instead is in the accountability: we don’t care who you are, if you are good for the people you’ll get the vote, if you’re bad you’re out.
And this is where our concern is.
The accountability part is not (yet) there. (political dealings minus accountability equals disaster).
It’s coming though, as you can read in the Economist:
“The most effective weapon is democracy itself. Mr YudhoyonoÂs honest image is a big factor in his popularity. His running-mate, Boediono, is famously incorruptible. His campaign drew Goenawan Mohamad, a veteran and vigorously independent writer, into politics for the first time as an adviser. More than anything else, says Mr Goenawan, Mr YudhoyonoÂs legacy should be a clean government.
The introduction since 2005 of direct elections for local officials has also spawned a new accountability. Herry Zudianto, mayor of Yogyakarta, runs one of IndonesiaÂs cleanest and most efficient administrations. Already mayor for five years when he faced an election in 2006, he was so popular that at first no candidate could be found to run against him.”
We shouldn’t believe everything we read, but hey. It’s something.
I reserve judgement on SBY, Ben.
Consider the KPK saga and that he stepped in to replace 3 of the leaders. Was he being decisive or interfering in a matter which, according to the laws pertaining to the Presidency, he should have been above?
As a parent of two sons, I feel that my obligation is not so much to steer them into perpetuating my legacy ~ Son of Jakartass anyone? ~ as in encouraging them to follow their own dreams and to try to reach trheir potential.
That the agency of Son. No. 1 sends more British tourists to Indonesia than any other is a result of his efforts rather than mine. Mind you, I did bring him out here several times when he was a kid, but that merely indicates that environmental influence is the key rather than cosseting and grooming.
Still, yes, I totally agree that accountability is the key. Will the new batches of legislators in Senayan and City Hall remember that they are there subject to the whims of the electorate?
Incidentally, I can recall three occasions, just three, when my proffered ‘brown envelope was refused. There are, and always will be, ‘honest’ politicians and bureaucrats around.
Sri Mulyani and Boediono spring to mind – until I learn differently.
“Until you learn differntly”. Precisely.
But hardly a vote of confidence!
YOu, atypically, quote this without a source
“However, to this commentator among others, it beggars belief that some, if not all, of these airlines have tripled fares to Padang citing ‘supply and demand’.”
I dont think it would hold up as fact. Fares did rise to over 1juta but airlines fell behind the cause with many generous options (lasting for two months I believe – longer by far than people’s grieving I dare say), and the govt imposed limits on price rises also for two months. Fares rose to clear the shortage; to ease the shortage by increasing supply would have meant others suffering. There are no free lunches remember.
Good to hear that the airlines have relented, but my sources were TV news and comments from friends of ‘Er Indoors.
I assume and hope your pad in Sumbar did not slide away.
salam bro..