---------------------------------------------------------- FREE for JOIN Indonesia Daily News Online via EMAIL: go to: http://www.indo-news.com/subscribe.html - FREE - FREE - FREE - FREE - FREE - FREE - Dengan mengClick banner sponsor anda menyumbang Rp. 1000,- untuk HomePage IndoNews. ---------------------------------------------------------- KOLOM SUPANGKAT: PEACE TO ME PEACE TO YOU: BE STILL AND KNOW PEACE I am flattered to be "accused" as an idealist or utopian because it is true. I am dreaming Indonesia to come back to the 1950-1958 era where there was demo- cracy, rule of law, justice and the best leaders we ever had in history. I realize this is utopia, because apparently Indonesia will never come back to this bygone era, eventhough sometimes "L'histoire se repete" mostly in a bad sense. However, I will never give up, I keep on fighting for it. Now we got back freedom of the press thanks fo Presiden Habibie and Minister Yosfiah. But my grateful- ness wouldn't stop me to criticize them and to ask him to step down and set up a Presidium whch could include himself together with other leaders. This will give the impression that I dislike Habibie. Indonesian people always take every- thing personally. But I don't, I like Habibie, the same way I like Alatas. So was the accusation that I dislike Alatas, which is not true, I have no reason to take personally on him, I wrote a letter to Ambassador Makarim that because I respect Alatas I wouldn't "shoot him down" in press conferences, I would rather back up in peace, eventhough I am capable to do it. I criticized Alatas for his kowtowing Suharto with the Nonaligned movement which was a waste of time and money and energy, on which issue even India realistical- ly gave up. There was no more blocs, no more cold war, no more need for move- ment like Nonaligned which had never been nonaligned anyway. Kissinger called it "an alignedment of the nonaligned". A Nicaraguan doctor who became foreign minister asked me repeatedly: "Why Nonaligned?" When I answered "In order to get support on East Timor", he retorted: "Did you get the needed support?" "Not so much" I said. Nicaragua abstained in Geneva on the condemnation of Indonesia on East Timor. I knew Alatas since he was an Attache in the democratic regime of 1950-1958. I and my wife always chatted with him in almost every diplomatic reception, once in a while I came to his office. We had cordial relations during his tenure as Amb- assador of the Indonesian Mission. And he was the only Indonesian Foreign Minister who almost always invited me to luncheons and dinners. But I told Ambassador Makarim, don't take it personally, from now on I got the freedom of the press and we go together in separate ways (Dutch saying: geshei- den samengaan). And given my age - I am three years older than Alex as I always called him before he became foreign minister - I have no more time to wait. On the other hand, knowing his strength and weakness, I feel great to be able to crticize Alatas, the best foreign minister of Indonesia. And to Ben, you buried the hatchet, I also buried my hatchet, I am sure you'll become a great diplomat like Alatas. My principle on East Timor is based on my own experiences as an independence fighter, I sympathize with them because it is reminiscient of my own struggle in the past. And nothing would change it. H.S. Hidayat Supangkat New York. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Didistribusikan tgl. 17 Mar 1999 jam 00:23:00 GMT+1 oleh: Indonesia Daily News Online <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> http://www.Indo-News.com/ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
