In a peaceful manner that is.
Soeharto, Indonesia’s 2nd president who was also known as The Smiling General is dying and has been hospitalised for more than a week (He is now in his 80s i think). His critical condition is now dominating the news outlets. Metro TV reports updates of his conditions almost hourly. From what i heard it seems like The General is losing this battle.
I don’t watch the news too much (well mostly not for the news, but for the news’ hostess). From what i’ve seen it almost like an entertainment news. There are fancy and colourful graphics about what happened to Soeharto’s dying, failing organs. There are information about his blood pressure, his heart and lung conditions. They held a press conference where his doctors gave explanation about the medical treatment he is going through. Then there is this one scene of Soeharto being surrounded by camerapersons and journalists while he is being taken out from a room on a hospital bed.
I think that is disrespectful and disgusting. He is dying, in a coma and on a hospital bed. Can’t they just let him rest?
And all these information about Soeharto’s blood pressure, organs, medical treatment, do the doctors have the privilege to disclose all those information to the public? Don’t Soeharto and family have the right to keep his privacy? Do all those information will make Indonesia as a sovereign nation move forward and soar? Does Soeharto really deserve that much attention?
The craziest thing of this is using his dying condition as a political gain. I heard that someone had heard Soeharto bestowing a trust of the fate of Indonesian people on Megawati. Well, for me that is another reason not to vote for Megawati in the next election. I don’t think we should ever trust a dying oldman on a hospital bed. There is a big chance he is only delusional or on drug.
For me, Soeharto is an enigma. Was he a great leader or a corrupt dictator? Was he an economic genius or a tool installed by foreign power to suck up Indonesia’s natural resources? Is he a benevolent javanese gentleman or a ruthless, oppressive, greedy bastard?
He was capable of making Indonesia’s economy grow fantastically but also easily crumbled in the time of crisis. He has always been portrayed as an always smiling, polite and kind person but his government was also known for their ruthlessness against those who opposed his policies.
I think he’ll better be gone sooner than later. It must be very painful to live with all those medical apparatuses. It must be painful for his family to watch his body giving up in front of national television. It will be a huge relief for all the journalists who have spent many nights without proper sleep.
I think Indonesians should just let him rest peacefully and forgive all of his mistakes in the past. But don’t forget. Mr. Soekarno once said to never ever forget history. Because history tends to repeat itself and often times the repeat of history long forgotten (or ignored) devastates the most.
Merdeka!
