Soeharto's Legacy

LEYAKET ALI MOHAMED OMAR

History of Religion Part 2- Prof Bernard Adeney- Risakotta and Prof Margana
Readings are from : Gerry van Klinken- The Battle for History after Suharto

Like many of his fellow Indonesians, this once-dominant leader has only one name: Suharto. A former Army General came to power in 1965 when political turmoil rocked the rule of former President Sukarno. He became president in 1968, a post he held in an iron grip until the financial crisis of 1998 precipitated widespread unrest and protest, leading to his resigning the presidency in that year.

Over a thirty-year period, he ruled the 225-million citizenry, 17,000 island archipelago with a firm hand, and I must say brought stability and development to a nation many had thought ungovernable, at least to my understanding from the past history lessons in the course. In the end, the continuing charges of corruption, human rights abuses and stifling of political dissent began to overshadow his achievements, and he was forced into resignation on 21 May, 1998.

Now, with his passing, Indonesians will have to wrestle with the complex legacy of a leader who left an indelible imprint on the country’s history. Klinken’s account of The battle for History after Suharto was interesting to know, he mentions ‘ When the press exploded some of the key historical myth upon which the national-building project had been built, and parents began to accuse hapless teachers around the country of teachings ‘lies’ (p.236)” As I wonder through the actual facts of the “lies’ or fabrication of history through power of ‘silencing’ the fact on 1st March 1949, 30th September 1965 was all a political agenda that has serve its purpose on those period of unrest. Although it might be a myth, but it does has an impact of pro- nationalist ideology that can help to further establish a better country. Soeharto played an exemplary role of moulding the country man to serve the country as a useful citizen. It serves as an important development to the country stagnant crisis of communism; it also marked a drastic change of direction from Soekarno’s socialistic economic system. The new economic system focused on economic liberalization, open-door policy to foreign capital, development policies emphasizing promotion of food production and industrialization, macroeconomic stabilization suppressing fiscal deficits and inflation, and aid acceptance from IMF, the World Bank, the United States, the Europe and Japan.

However, this is seen as injustice to many, especially with the eliminating of those who opposed Soeharto ideas. They demanded a shift from authoritarianism to democracy, from power concentration to decentralization, from political suppression to liberalization, from social control to liberalization, and demands dissolution of the vested interest structure under the his regime. The liberalization of political institutions has brought about the following evolutionary process: Formerly suppressed forces came to raise making use of the newly acquired freedom; the rise of new forces destabilized politics; learning from the instability, the political players started a search for more balanced political institutions.