“Forgive but not Forgoten”

The atmosphere of Indonesia could be best described as mixture of uncertainty and curiosity, this is especially true considering the critical ondition of ex-President Suharto. The ex-dictator’s health condition has become spotlight of headlines among media since last week.

It noticeably also has been source of discussion among Indonesian Bloggers. (this post was marked as latest top post in my wordpress dashboard). People who took benefit of Suharto’s long reign would probably feel sorry or sympathize his critical, near-vegetative condition.

I won’t give preach about the corruption he has done during his one-third reign in here, public knows better. I won’t preach about the long list of his violation toward human rights I’m sure you know it better than I do.

There is only one thing I won’t forget, one thing I consider his gravest sin, personally: Javanization.

I don’t want to spark useless debate about racial issues, but I can’t help but associate Suharto with cultural genocide, especially toward Chinese minority in Indonesia. There are many third generation Chinese here who forget to speak their ancestor’s tongue, and alienated from their big family who still speak Chinese language.

I know there are cases when a Chinese descent feel shameful because they have physically Chinese attributes, but don’t speak Chinese speak at all. Maybe they speak Javanese more fluently than they supposed to be toward their ancestor’s language. Some maybe also feel confused about their identity, are they Javanese? Are they Chinese?

That’s one of the saddest fate of Chinese descent who live in Indonesia, they lost their cultural identity, all because ambition of one man.

I admit that Soeharto had been a great President. He was almost a Leviathan, but too bad he wasn’t. He is a man with Javanese-centric mentality. He considered himself a great king and all other were his vassals. He is nowhere a Leviathan.

He built this country in weak foundation, making us fell on the trap of great debt. His superiority complex made us non-Javanese to act and behave like one. Chinese descent may not spoke their language, and they miss the chance to take benefit of the rising China. Get the big picture?

I might forgive Soeharto if he gonna passed out real soon. Forgiven not forgotten. He’s suffering a great pain anyway. He might win and beyond the reach of the law, but he was beaten by himself, by his existence of human being.

(from Republikbabi.com)