In Indonesia, the saying goes that after General Suharto passes on, the legendary figure of Ahmad Sukarno will shine again! Literally speaking, in many corners of the vast archipelago, there are people who believe that Suharto’s death will bring Sukarno back. However, with the passing of Suharto, it is a new ear that has opened for the Indonesian nation and we believe that the Republic will have a major impact on the region in the future.

Long live Indonesia. Suharto is gone and will not come back. Though many poor Indonesians felt that during his reign the country was better off, it is certain that after dealing with the immediate problems and settling the long term one’s, Indonesia will shine again.

It is not the death of Suharto that is more important here hence this article will not go back on his days as President. What is important is the fate of the ‘reformasi’ that helped topple the strong man. With the new regime in place in Jakarta, the country seems promised to more troubles. In one of our reports on Indonesia, we even titled one article as follows: Bambang or the curse of Indonesia. This was for obvious reasons. It appears that since the fall of Suharto, the country is reeling with problems.

Problems are unending and there are claims that the reformasi is not doing well for the country, at least not in the immediate though the population of today is certainly enjoying the fruits of the reform that was burning in Jakarta in the late 1990’s. Bambang is a product of the Suharto era; he was associated with the government of the late General in many ways. His style of governance is however different from that of the old man who finally kicked the bucket in January.

Under Suharto, the army was all powerful and with its various branches it controlled the business circles, the authority and the security of the nation. With a strong army in his hands, Suharto did not sit back and watch his potential adversaries attempt at toppling him. Instead it is now revealed that half a million people have perished under the rule of Suharto and it would not be surprising to know that many good Muslims passed off with the brutality of the Suharto regime.

That does not make the pride of the Muslims in Indonesia nor does the fact that Suharto is known as a ‘dictator’ or an ‘autocrat’ leader who practiced nepotism and favoritism. The Suharto era is one in which Aceh suffered the most as the rebellion was crushed by the military might of the regime. The Achenese people fought bravely and it can be said that they finally won against the domination of Java. But this victory for the Gerakan Aceh Merdeka (GAM) was obtained thanks to the weaknesses in the new government that took power in Jakarta with Susilo Bambang Yudhiyono as President.

The final ‘liberation’ of Aceh from the Javanese crunch is also the fruit of the ‘reformasi’ since it is thanks to the elements of the reform movement who are now in the government of Bambang that Jakarta was wooed into accepting peace with the GAM.

Aceh is today the crown of the new Indonesia since it has buried the hatchet after nearly 30 years of violent struggle but it is also true to say that ‘God’ had His say in the fate of Aceh too. The Tsunami that ravaged parts of Indonesia caused serious damages not only to the people of Aceh but also to the military contingency in Bandah Aceh, the Capital city of the rebellious province.

There are more bright stories from Indonesia but they are submerged by the numerous ‘disasters’ called ‘natural disasters’ by the ignorant but seen as ‘divine’ intervention by some. Why are these disasters that are plaguing the Bambang regime ‘divine’? Maybe God want Indonesia to reform itself with Islam as the core, the basic of the new economic and political system, is the answer from some.

Reformasi, observers insist, has helped Indonesia deal with several major issues, such as Aceh, East Timor and press freedom. Under Suharto, the press was muzzled and it was impossible to see anything independent in Indonesia. It was all one sided and it was always about the greatness of the Suharto regime. The student revolt during the reformasi did well for the country since it liberated the press from government control. It also freed the audio-visual media, which is now thriving with creative and independent stations.

Islam too was given a breather with the reformasi. During the Suharto rule, the streets of Jakarta and of other major cities were always full of women dressed in western style clothing or not wearing the Muslim scarf. Today there is a greater number of Muslim women who are using the Muslim scarf and it is clearly visible in the streets and shopping complexes.

The current President is altogether closer to the Islamic faith than General Suharto and he would not undo Indonesia the way the dead General did, with all the violence and harshness that history will remember. Bambang is steering the country towards new heights but he is still pretty much ‘cursed’ with the disasters. It could be different if he was probably brave enough to ‘reconstruct’ Indonesia, giving it an Islamic allure the same way Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Prime Minister of Malaysia is seen doing.

The reform in Malaysia could inspire the democratic system in Indonesia and this would be of great importance if the Indonesians would calm down their natural anger against the Malaysians. They could learn how Abdullah Badawi is running his own Islamic reform movement by curtailing on ‘secularism’ and giving Islam a larger public role, which in extension also means a great political and economic role for Islam.

Malaysia is gearing for a version of Shariah that has not been applied in other Muslim states and this is seen as lethal for ‘secular’ Malaysia. Secularism is still holding on well in Indonesia thanks to its existing constitution and perhaps things would be better in the great Indonesian nation if Bambang would scratch the surface of the Panchasila by amending the Articles that need amendments?

Well, it is an Indonesian matter but learning how the democratic process took roots with good effects in Indonesia will be good for its neighbors. Indonesia remains one of the very few Muslim nations that have showed the world how ‘democracy’ can be Islamic. In many ways, the Muslims in Indonesia have adopted some democratic principles to better their lives by allowing Islam to perfect their system and their thinking.

In Riau, the richest province in Indonesia today, the application of Islamic principles has taken roots in many of the regencies and many of the leaders of today in those regencies – though they pay allegiance to Democracy on a national basis – have also showed their true allegiance towards Islam. The current Governor of Riau, Bang Rosli as he is popularly known (his full name is Rosli Zainal) is also seen as a Muslim icon and is celebrated as an Imam altogether. He is setting the example from the top and he certainly has found the right recipe for an ‘Islamic’ success story in his province.

From Siak to Bengkalis and even in Pekan Baru, the traces of a growing sentiment towards Islam and its fairness and justice can be witnessed. During one of our visits to Indonesia in 2007, we witnessed the return of Islam in many cities, towns and villages. There are also plans to apply Islamic principles in economy, politics and also in the daily lives of the people.

Under Suharto, this would have been impossible and for sure we can say that Islamic extremism is something that does not exist in Indonesia, certainly not in the current wave of reforms that is coming with Islam as the basis. The Indonesians are not extremists and are very warm and friendly.  They are seen as the ‘future’ flag bearer of a new Islamic revivalism in the South East Asia and it is the Islam that does not preach violence and seeks peace, justice and harmony for the people.

Would Sukarno resurface or resurrect? In some quarters, the Indonesians are adepts of the ‘supernatural’ however the saying is that Sukarno did not die and that silence was imposed on him by Suharto. Now Suharto gone, a few are hoping that Ahmad Sukarno, the father of Indonesia would reappear and this may signal the end to many of the problems faced in Indonesia.

Nonetheless, Suharto is dead but long live Indonesia and May God Bless Republic Indonesia!

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hi
written by pakli, May 04, 2008

hi there...read me?

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