Rest In Peace:Pak Harto (finally) passed away

Former Indonesian President, Soeharto passed away today, Sunday, January 27, 2008 at 1.10pm at RSPP.

Good bye Pak Harto, may you rest in peace.

I heard about the news while I was browsing Expedia.com trying to daydream about going on vacation somewhere. Hubby was sleeping, then his mobile phone rang. His friend told him that Pak Harto passed away — so he must make action to move the wireless device planted by his client in RSPP (for the journalist) to Yogya.

We immediately switch on Metro TV and there it is….the news the nation awaits. It has been 24 days after he is admitted to the hospital. After several critical condition, several miraculous recovery (he was reported able to talk yesterday), today he was in critical condition again, before finally he submitted to the will of God AlMighty.

The Soeharto chronicle was one amazing happenings in early 2008. Right after he was admitted to RSPP, the hospital was the watering hole of many many many media. The once quite beautiful garden was rampaged by trucks from TV stations, eagerly await any news about his condition.

For about two weeks, print media’s front page was about his minute by minute condition. After seeing that he is probably not going to go soon, media started to move news about him to their inner pages. Even today’s papers do not have news about him in the front page. I bet, tomorrow, all papers will have a black banner with news about Pak Harto on their front page.

Pak Harto was one of Indonesia’s charismatic leader, despite of all charges addressed to him. Nobody could deny his leadership for 32 years have been providing Indonesian a chance to be seen and respected by other countries.

Farewell Pak Harto, rest in peace. I forgive you, and I appeal to all my fellow Indonesian to forgive him too.

PS: will tomorrow be declared as a holiday? or will the government declare three days of mourning? Naaaaah….I wish, but that’s highly unlikely. We’ll see.

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Visionary VIPs: Pak Harto, MM Lee and Doctor Mahathir

MM Lee visits Pak Harto this morning. Good to hear.

Heard that Doctor Mahathir is also planned to visit Pak Harto. Another good thing.

It shows that Pak Harto really has good relationship with great leaders of our neighbouring countries.

The three probably share the same traits, same concept in ruling their countries and same way of thinking. Be it good or bad. The three of them have great visions for their countries and they make it happened — despite lots of grumbling among the people.

Now, Indonesia is leading a different way from the other two, and look where we are now…….we are different in many ways…..go figure.

Among the three, I think only Pak Harto is forced to step down. The two stepped down on their own account, which in the end make them still ‘running’ the countries behind the scene.

In my humble opinion again, these three people are great and very advanced in their visions during their ruling time, that probably not many will understand. And in order to understand their visions and their way of thinking, we, the people must be given a choice on how we want our lives be run. So, authoritarian way of governing people is something that are frowned upon, always. It is not a good thing, I must say. But it is also not entirely bad.

It must be balanced. Give us options to choose, but do give us boundaries.

Only then we will know which one is the best for us. Isn’t that how we are told to raise our kids? Provide encouragement and options, so they can take care of their own livelihood and make the best choices for themselves.

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The Pak Harto Chronicle

Our longest ever ruling president, Soeharto has been very ill in the hospital for nearly two weeks now and day by day, speculation and the media frenzy is getting even crazier. I thought I will write something about this when he passed away. But apparently, I need to rant about some things that happens before the time comes.

I feel sorry for Pak Harto, yet I’m very much amaze on how much influence he has among us, the people of Indonesia. 

I was in Singapore for three days last week and everywhere we go, when Singaporeans learnt that we are Indonesian, they always ask: “do you think Pak Harto will make it?” Our standard responses are always similar: “we hope for the bestlah. Whatever that is, God will provide the best for him”.  

We kind of understand this, since in Singapore, a kitten stranded up a tree can get into first page (OK, that’s a slight exaggerationlah), so the Singaporean people must be longed for something bigger than how many newlyweds are using the newly opened Terminal 3 to get hitched. 

Of my nearly 38 years of life, I have not seen any greater media attention that this. When Ibu Tien passed away long time ago, of course there are media craze. She was still the First Lady when she died, that’s understandable.

But Pak Harto is still with us (even if it only barely), so either the attention is there because of his greatness, or whether we do not have other more important news to be told? I think this last 10 days, we could find more government officials gathering around RSPP than in their respective offices. All of them are paying their respects to Pak Harto – or letting the people know that they still respect Pak Harto, most probably.  

At first, I was so keen to know the day to day (or rather minute by minute) accounts on Pak Harto’s progress. But then the media begin to extend their coverage to other things, such as the court case, the missing persons case, his stepping down 10 years ago,etc. I felt like we are ‘entertained’ with an obituary – while the subject is still alive. That’s strange. When he was said to be in critical condition for the second time, the media run a story on preparation done at Astana Giribangun (the cemetery) and how the Karanganyar government has prepared a special ID card for journalists for the funeral – got the picture also. Heeeeyyy….he is still alive.  

From my professional life, being prepared is always good. But preparation should be kept behind the scene. No need to tell the world about that.  Then I was so amused with the fact that some independent groups were coming to the hospital and pray for Pak Harto’s wellness, hopping that he could get better – so he can stand the trial. WHAT THE F@#$??????  It’s just totally inappropriate! 

I fully supported REFORMASI, I like democracy and I fully support the demise of Order Baru, but I appeal to all of us Indonesian, do not forget all the good things that Pak Harto done for our country.  For the 30plus years he lead us, despites all the corruption, collusions, nepotism that we suspected (and some are proven true), he developed Indonesia to where we are now and with his leadership we were once the greatest nation in SEA (probably Asia also). 

So my fellow countrymen and women, let’s forgive Pak Harto. He is a very sick old man now. We need to let it go, we need to be ikhlas, on all counts, so he can be relieved of his pains.  

Yep, I think the best thing for Pak Harto in his current condition is to go see his maker, it’s time already. I really can’t stand to see him ‘tortured’ with lots of those machines attached and medications and still have to go through lots of allegation.  Let him go in peace. Pak Harto, God will provide the best for you. Thank you for what you’ve done for the country, it will not go un-noticed.  

In my humble opinion, Pak Harto might be a persona non grata at the end, but he has done great things for my beloved country, Indonesia.

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