Re: [ob] Insight: The Century and Bumi cases: Who is the slayer, who is the victim?

2010-01-17 Terurut Topik Wong Cilik
Hear ... hear.

On Sun, Jan 17, 2010 at 3:57 PM, victor_sperandeo 
victor_speran...@yahoo.com wrote:

 Insight: The Century and Bumi cases: Who is the slayer, who is the victim?

 Wimar Witoelar ,  Jakarta   |  Wed, 01/13/2010 9:05 AM  |  Headlines

 After the disastrous machine gun attack on the Togolese national football
 team's bus on the Angola border, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said the
 African Cup of Nations should continue despite the fact the attack killed
 several people. I don't believe you can just stop a competition because of
 an incident as I think that would reward the people who provoked the
 incident and could mean that any competition is stopped at any time, added
 Wenger, who has Arsenal players Alex Song (Cameroon) and Emmanuel Eboue
 (Ivory Coast) playing for their national teams in the finals. Arsenal Wenger
 has got it right. It's not only about winning. It's about doing the right
 thing.

 There is more than a touch of surrealism in the events unfolding today. We
 remember that President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono  (SBY) won his second term
 with a majority of more than 60 percent. In addition, he has done nothing
 wrong. Even if he was at fault in the Bank Century allegations, it happened
 in 2008, the year before the political parties initiated the parliamentary
 proceedings supported by the media group that is owned by tax evaders.

 Many parliamentarians who now allege fraud in the Bank Century bailout
 agreed with the bailout decision at the time it was taken. Finance Minister
 Sri Mulyani and Vice President Boediono should be the last people in any
 Indonesian government to be accused of dishonesty, with clean records for
 the lifespan of their careers. So why are these good people being vilified
 by politicians, student activists and people on the street?

 You need search no further back than 2001 for a possible answer. The night
 before last New Year's Eve, the nation lost a great man who held the
 presidency for less than two years until he was ousted in 2001. In those
 brief years, Abdurrahman Gus Dur Wahid  succeeded in launching the
 greatest reforms in Indonesia's civil society. Through his leadership and
 the support of many good people, Indonesia became an overnight leader in the
 promotion of pluralism, democracy and humanity. Gus Dur is by all measures a
 hero.

 Although he lost the presidency, Gus Dur was elevated to become the keeper
 of the nation's conscience. He was a victim of a cabal, a small group of
 secret plotters.  Who were the plotters? Parliament leaders, the media, big
 money, misguided students and paid activists. There is a strong sense of
 déjà vu. The cast of characters in 2010 is a bit different from 2001 but the
 story is the same.

 SBY is not Gus Dur, but they are both popular leaders facing vindictive
 politicians.  Substitute Golkar chairman Aburizal Bakrie for Amien Rais in
 the leading role and you have the same scenario now as we had back then.
 Bulog-Bruneigate was the excuse for wanton attacks on the president in 2001
 and Bank Century is the issue in 2010. Buloggate was never proven as a crime
 and neither will the Bank Century case. Amien Rais went for straight
 impeachment instead, explaining that it didn't matter what he was guilty of,
 he had been removed. Aburizal may yet desert Century and aim at impeachment,
 all or nothing.

 According to the press, student groups and activists plan to hold rallies
 to pressure President Yudhoyono and Vice President Boediono to step down.
 They demand that SBY and Boediono resign because the students feel they can
 no longer expect anything from them. Many do not agree, but they do not have
 the funding to resist, nor do they own political parties and television
 stations. The economy needs the smart and impeccably clean finance minister,
 but she is drowned out by meaningless screams.

 Where are the anti-Wahid activists of 2001 now?  Everybody mourns the
 passing of Gus Dur whom the demonstrators derided, insulted and forced out
 of office. Students joined demonstrations led by Amien Rais in March of
 2001. Where have they all gone?  Will the activists of 2010 also disappear
 once their cynical job is done? Activists announced they would take to the
 streets in a force of 100,000 people last month on International
 Anti-Corruption Day. Fears disappeared when only 5,000 demonstrators showed
 up in Jakarta. A group of 50 threw stones at a KFC outlet in Makassar
 believing the neoliberal corporation was involved in Bank Century. Why such
 a disappointing turnout? It was raining, the leaders later explained.

 The political battle could become serious if a TV expose gathers momentum,
 if a station presents a clinical overview of the tax fraud cases pending
 against the Bakrie Group. To make a long story short, it involves an amount
 that may well reach Rp 10 trillion (US$1.09 billion) in tax and royalty
 debts and fines for tax evasion. The Bakrie Group has declined to comment so
 we do 

Re: [ob] Insight: The Century and Bumi cases: Who is the slayer, who is the victim?

2010-01-17 Terurut Topik Jacob Oen
Berikut ini beberapa cuplikan yang diambil dari tulisan Wimar Witoelar:

Many parliamentarians who now allege fraud in the Bank Century bailout agreed 
with the bailout decision at the time it was taken. Finance Minister Sri 
Mulyani and Vice President Boediono should be the last people in any Indonesian 
government to be accused of dishonesty, with clean records for the lifespan of 
their careers. So why are these good people being vilified by politicians, 
student activists and people on the street?

The political battle could become serious if a TV expose gathers momentum, if a 
station presents a clinical overview of the tax fraud cases pending against the 
Bakrie Group. To make a long story short, it involves an amount that may well 
reach Rp 10 trillion (US$1.09 billion) in tax and royalty debts and fines for 
tax evasion. The Bakrie Group has declined to comment so we do not know their 
side of the story. But if the allegations are true then the money is much 
greater than the alleged Bank Century bailout cost, which is clearly 
retrievable. So where are the criminals? In the Century case, in the Bakrie 
case, in both, or in none of the above? As the chorus lament in Sophocles' 
Antigone: Who is the slayer, who the victim? Speak.

The public wants to know. Not because we want to choose one above the other, 
not for the sake of picking the winner. The public has no partisan agenda 
because it's not only about winning; it's about doing the right thing.






From: victor_sperandeo victor_speran...@yahoo.com
To: obrolan-bandar@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sun, January 17, 2010 11:57:39 AM
Subject: [ob] Insight: The Century and Bumi cases: Who is the slayer, who is 
the victim?

  
Insight: The Century and Bumi cases: Who is the slayer, who is the victim?

Wimar Witoelar , Jakarta | Wed, 01/13/2010 9:05 AM | Headlines

After the disastrous machine gun attack on the Togolese national football 
team's bus on the Angola border, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said the African 
Cup of Nations should continue despite the fact the attack killed several 
people. I don't believe you can just stop a competition because of an incident 
as I think that would reward the people who provoked the incident and could 
mean that any competition is stopped at any time, added Wenger, who has 
Arsenal players Alex Song (Cameroon) and Emmanuel Eboue (Ivory Coast) playing 
for their national teams in the finals. Arsenal Wenger has got it right. It's 
not only about winning. It's about doing the right thing.

There is more than a touch of surrealism in the events unfolding today. We 
remember that President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) won his second term with 
a majority of more than 60 percent. In addition, he has done nothing wrong. 
Even if he was at fault in the Bank Century allegations, it happened in 2008, 
the year before the political parties initiated the parliamentary proceedings 
supported by the media group that is owned by tax evaders.

Many parliamentarians who now allege fraud in the Bank Century bailout agreed 
with the bailout decision at the time it was taken. Finance Minister Sri 
Mulyani and Vice President Boediono should be the last people in any Indonesian 
government to be accused of dishonesty, with clean records for the lifespan of 
their careers. So why are these good people being vilified by politicians, 
student activists and people on the street?

You need search no further back than 2001 for a possible answer. The night 
before last New Year's Eve, the nation lost a great man who held the presidency 
for less than two years until he was ousted in 2001. In those brief years, 
Abdurrahman Gus Dur Wahid succeeded in launching the greatest reforms in 
Indonesia's civil society. Through his leadership and the support of many good 
people, Indonesia became an overnight leader in the promotion of pluralism, 
democracy and humanity. Gus Dur is by all measures a hero. 

Although he lost the presidency, Gus Dur was elevated to become the keeper of 
the nation's conscience. He was a victim of a cabal, a small group of secret 
plotters. Who were the plotters? Parliament leaders, the media, big money, 
misguided students and paid activists. There is a strong sense of déjà vu. The 
cast of characters in 2010 is a bit different from 2001 but the story is the 
same.

SBY is not Gus Dur, but they are both popular leaders facing vindictive 
politicians. Substitute Golkar chairman Aburizal Bakrie for Amien Rais in the 
leading role and you have the same scenario now as we had back then. 
Bulog-Bruneigate was the excuse for wanton attacks on the president in 2001 and 
Bank Century is the issue in 2010. Buloggate was never proven as a crime and 
neither will the Bank Century case. Amien Rais went for straight impeachment 
instead, explaining that it didn't matter what he was guilty of, he had been 
removed. Aburizal may yet desert Century and aim at impeachment, all or nothing.

According to 

Re: [ob] Insight: The Century and Bumi cases: Who is the slayer, who is the victim?

2010-01-17 Terurut Topik Jacob Oen
Berikut ini beberapa cuplikan yang diambil dari tulisan Wimar Witoelar:(re-post)


Many parliamentarians who now allege fraud in the Bank Century bailout agreed 
with the bailout decision at the time it was taken. Finance Minister Sri 
Mulyani and Vice President Boediono should be the last people in any Indonesian 
government to be accused of dishonesty, with clean records for the lifespan of 
their careers. So why are these good people being vilified by politicians, 
student activists and people on the street?

 
The political battle could become serious if a TV expose gathers momentum, if a 
station presents a clinical overview of the tax fraud cases pending against the 
Bakrie Group. To make a long story short, it involves an amount that may well 
reach Rp 10 trillion (US$1.09 billion) in tax and royalty debts and fines for 
tax evasion. The Bakrie Group has declined to comment so we do not know their 
side of the story. But if the allegations are true then the money is much 
greater than the alleged Bank Century bailout cost, which is clearly 
retrievable. So where are the criminals? In the Century case, in the Bakrie 
case, in both, or in none of the above? As the chorus lament in Sophocles' 
Antigone: Who is the slayer, who the victim? Speak.

The public wants to know. Not because we want to choose one above the other, 
not for the sake of picking the winner. The public has no partisan agenda 
because it's not only about winning; it's about doing the right thing.






From: victor_sperandeo victor_sperandeo@ yahoo.com
To: obrolan-bandar@ yahoogroups. com
Sent: Sun, January 17, 2010 11:57:39 AM
Subject: [ob] Insight: The Century and Bumi cases: Who is the slayer, who is 
the victim?

  
Insight: The Century and Bumi cases: Who is the slayer, who is the victim?

Wimar Witoelar , Jakarta | Wed, 01/13/2010 9:05 AM | Headlines

After the disastrous machine gun attack on the Togolese national football 
team's bus on the Angola border, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said the African 
Cup of Nations should continue despite the fact the attack killed several 
people. I don't believe you can just stop a competition because of an incident 
as I think that would reward the people who provoked the incident and could 
mean that any competition is stopped at any time, added Wenger, who has 
Arsenal players Alex Song (Cameroon) and Emmanuel Eboue (Ivory Coast) playing 
for their national teams in the finals. Arsenal Wenger has got it right. It's 
not only about winning. It's about doing the right thing.

There is more than a touch of surrealism in the events unfolding today. We 
remember that President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) won his second term with 
a majority of more than 60 percent. In addition, he has done nothing wrong. 
Even if he was at fault in the Bank Century allegations, it happened in 2008, 
the year before the political parties initiated the parliamentary proceedings 
supported by the media group that is owned by tax evaders.

Many parliamentarians who now allege fraud in the Bank Century bailout agreed 
with the bailout decision at the time it was taken. Finance Minister Sri 
Mulyani and Vice President Boediono should be the last people in any Indonesian 
government to be accused of dishonesty, with clean records for the lifespan of 
their careers. So why are these good people being vilified by politicians, 
student activists and people on the street?

You need search no further back than 2001 for a possible answer. The night 
before last New Year's Eve, the nation lost a great man who held the presidency 
for less than two years until he was ousted in 2001. In those brief years, 
Abdurrahman Gus Dur Wahid succeeded in launching the greatest reforms in 
Indonesia's civil society. Through his leadership and the support of many good 
people, Indonesia became an overnight leader in the promotion of pluralism, 
democracy and humanity. Gus Dur is by all measures a hero. 

Although he lost the presidency, Gus Dur was elevated to become the keeper of 
the nation's conscience. He was a victim of a cabal, a small group of secret 
plotters. Who were the plotters? Parliament leaders, the media, big money, 
misguided students and paid activists. There is a strong sense of déjà vu. The 
cast of characters in 2010 is a bit different from 2001 but the story is the 
same.

SBY is not Gus Dur, but they are both popular leaders facing vindictive 
politicians. Substitute Golkar chairman Aburizal Bakrie for Amien Rais in the 
leading role and you have the same scenario now as we had back then. 
Bulog-Bruneigate was the excuse for wanton attacks on the president in 2001 and 
Bank Century is the issue in 2010. Buloggate was never proven as a crime and 
neither will the Bank Century case. Amien Rais went for straight impeachment 
instead, explaining that it didn't matter what he was guilty of, he had been 
removed. Aburizal may yet desert Century and aim at impeachment, all or 

Re: [ob] Insight: The Century and Bumi cases: Who is the slayer, who is the victim?

2010-01-17 Terurut Topik Metallic Bull
It's peculiar for someone who is an expert in communication, writing a very 
important topic for the whole nation, in English.

Doesn't he know that only a very small fraction of Indonesian reads Jakarta 
Post and speaks English?

Jeez...

- Original Message - 
From: victor_sperandeo victor_speran...@yahoo.com
To: obrolan-bandar@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sunday, January 17, 2010 1:57 PM
Subject: [ob] Insight: The Century and Bumi cases: Who is the slayer, who is 
the victim?


Insight: The Century and Bumi cases: Who is the slayer, who is the victim?

Wimar Witoelar ,  Jakarta   |  Wed, 01/13/2010 9:05 AM  |  Headlines

After the disastrous machine gun attack on the Togolese national football 
team's bus on the Angola border, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said the 
African Cup of Nations should continue despite the fact the attack killed 
several people. I don't believe you can just stop a competition because of 
an incident as I think that would reward the people who provoked the 
incident and could mean that any competition is stopped at any time, added 
Wenger, who has Arsenal players Alex Song (Cameroon) and Emmanuel Eboue 
(Ivory Coast) playing for their national teams in the finals. Arsenal Wenger 
has got it right. It's not only about winning. It's about doing the right 
thing.

There is more than a touch of surrealism in the events unfolding today. We 
remember that President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono  (SBY) won his second term 
with a majority of more than 60 percent. In addition, he has done nothing 
wrong. Even if he was at fault in the Bank Century allegations, it happened 
in 2008, the year before the political parties initiated the parliamentary 
proceedings supported by the media group that is owned by tax evaders.

Many parliamentarians who now allege fraud in the Bank Century bailout 
agreed with the bailout decision at the time it was taken. Finance Minister 
Sri Mulyani and Vice President Boediono should be the last people in any 
Indonesian government to be accused of dishonesty, with clean records for 
the lifespan of their careers. So why are these good people being vilified 
by politicians, student activists and people on the street?

You need search no further back than 2001 for a possible answer. The night 
before last New Year's Eve, the nation lost a great man who held the 
presidency for less than two years until he was ousted in 2001. In those 
brief years, Abdurrahman Gus Dur Wahid  succeeded in launching the 
greatest reforms in Indonesia's civil society. Through his leadership and 
the support of many good people, Indonesia became an overnight leader in the 
promotion of pluralism, democracy and humanity. Gus Dur is by all measures a 
hero.

Although he lost the presidency, Gus Dur was elevated to become the keeper 
of the nation's conscience. He was a victim of a cabal, a small group of 
secret plotters.  Who were the plotters? Parliament leaders, the media, big 
money, misguided students and paid activists. There is a strong sense of 
déjà vu. The cast of characters in 2010 is a bit different from 2001 but the 
story is the same.

SBY is not Gus Dur, but they are both popular leaders facing vindictive 
politicians.  Substitute Golkar chairman Aburizal Bakrie for Amien Rais in 
the leading role and you have the same scenario now as we had back then. 
Bulog-Bruneigate was the excuse for wanton attacks on the president in 2001 
and Bank Century is the issue in 2010. Buloggate was never proven as a crime 
and neither will the Bank Century case. Amien Rais went for straight 
impeachment instead, explaining that it didn't matter what he was guilty of, 
he had been removed. Aburizal may yet desert Century and aim at impeachment, 
all or nothing.

According to the press, student groups and activists plan to hold rallies to 
pressure President Yudhoyono and Vice President Boediono to step down. They 
demand that SBY and Boediono resign because the students feel they can no 
longer expect anything from them. Many do not agree, but they do not have 
the funding to resist, nor do they own political parties and television 
stations. The economy needs the smart and impeccably clean finance minister, 
but she is drowned out by meaningless screams.

Where are the anti-Wahid activists of 2001 now?  Everybody mourns the 
passing of Gus Dur whom the demonstrators derided, insulted and forced out 
of office. Students joined demonstrations led by Amien Rais in March of 
2001. Where have they all gone?  Will the activists of 2010 also disappear 
once their cynical job is done? Activists announced they would take to the 
streets in a force of 100,000 people last month on International 
Anti-Corruption Day. Fears disappeared when only 5,000 demonstrators showed 
up in Jakarta. A group of 50 threw stones at a KFC outlet in Makassar 
believing the neoliberal corporation was involved in Bank Century. Why such 
a disappointing turnout? It was raining, the leaders later explained.

The political 

Re: [ob] Insight: The Century and Bumi cases: Who is the slayer, who is the victim?

2010-01-17 Terurut Topik Jacob
He's probably correct. As the very important target audience are FOREIGN 
investors, FM, Ambassadors and those upper level people who can read and speak 
english.

Sent from my XL BlackBerry®

Compassion is the best defence against hate.
Wisdom is the best defence against delusion.

-Original Message-
From: Metallic Bull metallic.b...@gmail.com
Date: Sun, 17 Jan 2010 21:49:16 
To: obrolan-bandar@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [ob] Insight: The Century and Bumi cases: Who is the slayer, who 
is the victim?

It's peculiar for someone who is an expert in communication, writing a very 
important topic for the whole nation, in English.

Doesn't he know that only a very small fraction of Indonesian reads Jakarta 
Post and speaks English?

Jeez...

- Original Message - 
From: victor_sperandeo victor_speran...@yahoo.com
To: obrolan-bandar@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sunday, January 17, 2010 1:57 PM
Subject: [ob] Insight: The Century and Bumi cases: Who is the slayer, who is 
the victim?


Insight: The Century and Bumi cases: Who is the slayer, who is the victim?

Wimar Witoelar ,  Jakarta   |  Wed, 01/13/2010 9:05 AM  |  Headlines

After the disastrous machine gun attack on the Togolese national football 
team's bus on the Angola border, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said the 
African Cup of Nations should continue despite the fact the attack killed 
several people. I don't believe you can just stop a competition because of 
an incident as I think that would reward the people who provoked the 
incident and could mean that any competition is stopped at any time, added 
Wenger, who has Arsenal players Alex Song (Cameroon) and Emmanuel Eboue 
(Ivory Coast) playing for their national teams in the finals. Arsenal Wenger 
has got it right. It's not only about winning. It's about doing the right 
thing.

There is more than a touch of surrealism in the events unfolding today. We 
remember that President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono  (SBY) won his second term 
with a majority of more than 60 percent. In addition, he has done nothing 
wrong. Even if he was at fault in the Bank Century allegations, it happened 
in 2008, the year before the political parties initiated the parliamentary 
proceedings supported by the media group that is owned by tax evaders.

Many parliamentarians who now allege fraud in the Bank Century bailout 
agreed with the bailout decision at the time it was taken. Finance Minister 
Sri Mulyani and Vice President Boediono should be the last people in any 
Indonesian government to be accused of dishonesty, with clean records for 
the lifespan of their careers. So why are these good people being vilified 
by politicians, student activists and people on the street?

You need search no further back than 2001 for a possible answer. The night 
before last New Year's Eve, the nation lost a great man who held the 
presidency for less than two years until he was ousted in 2001. In those 
brief years, Abdurrahman Gus Dur Wahid  succeeded in launching the 
greatest reforms in Indonesia's civil society. Through his leadership and 
the support of many good people, Indonesia became an overnight leader in the 
promotion of pluralism, democracy and humanity. Gus Dur is by all measures a 
hero.

Although he lost the presidency, Gus Dur was elevated to become the keeper 
of the nation's conscience. He was a victim of a cabal, a small group of 
secret plotters.  Who were the plotters? Parliament leaders, the media, big 
money, misguided students and paid activists. There is a strong sense of 
déjà vu. The cast of characters in 2010 is a bit different from 2001 but the 
story is the same.

SBY is not Gus Dur, but they are both popular leaders facing vindictive 
politicians.  Substitute Golkar chairman Aburizal Bakrie for Amien Rais in 
the leading role and you have the same scenario now as we had back then. 
Bulog-Bruneigate was the excuse for wanton attacks on the president in 2001 
and Bank Century is the issue in 2010. Buloggate was never proven as a crime 
and neither will the Bank Century case. Amien Rais went for straight 
impeachment instead, explaining that it didn't matter what he was guilty of, 
he had been removed. Aburizal may yet desert Century and aim at impeachment, 
all or nothing.

According to the press, student groups and activists plan to hold rallies to 
pressure President Yudhoyono and Vice President Boediono to step down. They 
demand that SBY and Boediono resign because the students feel they can no 
longer expect anything from them. Many do not agree, but they do not have 
the funding to resist, nor do they own political parties and television 
stations. The economy needs the smart and impeccably clean finance minister, 
but she is drowned out by meaningless screams.

Where are the anti-Wahid activists of 2001 now?  Everybody mourns the 
passing of Gus Dur whom the demonstrators derided, insulted and forced out 
of office. Students joined demonstrations led by Amien Rais in March of 
2001. Where 

Re: [ob] Insight: The Century and Bumi cases: Who is the slayer, who is the victim?

2010-01-17 Terurut Topik indeksbei3000
Maybe he write it for an english newspaper/magazine..

Jeezz...
Sent from my BlackBerry®
powered by Sinyal Kuat INDOSAT

-Original Message-
From: Metallic Bull metallic.b...@gmail.com
Date: Sun, 17 Jan 2010 21:49:16 
To: obrolan-bandar@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [ob] Insight: The Century and Bumi cases: Who is the slayer, who 
is the victim?

It's peculiar for someone who is an expert in communication, writing a very 
important topic for the whole nation, in English.

Doesn't he know that only a very small fraction of Indonesian reads Jakarta 
Post and speaks English?

Jeez...

- Original Message - 
From: victor_sperandeo victor_speran...@yahoo.com
To: obrolan-bandar@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sunday, January 17, 2010 1:57 PM
Subject: [ob] Insight: The Century and Bumi cases: Who is the slayer, who is 
the victim?


Insight: The Century and Bumi cases: Who is the slayer, who is the victim?

Wimar Witoelar ,  Jakarta   |  Wed, 01/13/2010 9:05 AM  |  Headlines

After the disastrous machine gun attack on the Togolese national football 
team's bus on the Angola border, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said the 
African Cup of Nations should continue despite the fact the attack killed 
several people. I don't believe you can just stop a competition because of 
an incident as I think that would reward the people who provoked the 
incident and could mean that any competition is stopped at any time, added 
Wenger, who has Arsenal players Alex Song (Cameroon) and Emmanuel Eboue 
(Ivory Coast) playing for their national teams in the finals. Arsenal Wenger 
has got it right. It's not only about winning. It's about doing the right 
thing.

There is more than a touch of surrealism in the events unfolding today. We 
remember that President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono  (SBY) won his second term 
with a majority of more than 60 percent. In addition, he has done nothing 
wrong. Even if he was at fault in the Bank Century allegations, it happened 
in 2008, the year before the political parties initiated the parliamentary 
proceedings supported by the media group that is owned by tax evaders.

Many parliamentarians who now allege fraud in the Bank Century bailout 
agreed with the bailout decision at the time it was taken. Finance Minister 
Sri Mulyani and Vice President Boediono should be the last people in any 
Indonesian government to be accused of dishonesty, with clean records for 
the lifespan of their careers. So why are these good people being vilified 
by politicians, student activists and people on the street?

You need search no further back than 2001 for a possible answer. The night 
before last New Year's Eve, the nation lost a great man who held the 
presidency for less than two years until he was ousted in 2001. In those 
brief years, Abdurrahman Gus Dur Wahid  succeeded in launching the 
greatest reforms in Indonesia's civil society. Through his leadership and 
the support of many good people, Indonesia became an overnight leader in the 
promotion of pluralism, democracy and humanity. Gus Dur is by all measures a 
hero.

Although he lost the presidency, Gus Dur was elevated to become the keeper 
of the nation's conscience. He was a victim of a cabal, a small group of 
secret plotters.  Who were the plotters? Parliament leaders, the media, big 
money, misguided students and paid activists. There is a strong sense of 
déjà vu. The cast of characters in 2010 is a bit different from 2001 but the 
story is the same.

SBY is not Gus Dur, but they are both popular leaders facing vindictive 
politicians.  Substitute Golkar chairman Aburizal Bakrie for Amien Rais in 
the leading role and you have the same scenario now as we had back then. 
Bulog-Bruneigate was the excuse for wanton attacks on the president in 2001 
and Bank Century is the issue in 2010. Buloggate was never proven as a crime 
and neither will the Bank Century case. Amien Rais went for straight 
impeachment instead, explaining that it didn't matter what he was guilty of, 
he had been removed. Aburizal may yet desert Century and aim at impeachment, 
all or nothing.

According to the press, student groups and activists plan to hold rallies to 
pressure President Yudhoyono and Vice President Boediono to step down. They 
demand that SBY and Boediono resign because the students feel they can no 
longer expect anything from them. Many do not agree, but they do not have 
the funding to resist, nor do they own political parties and television 
stations. The economy needs the smart and impeccably clean finance minister, 
but she is drowned out by meaningless screams.

Where are the anti-Wahid activists of 2001 now?  Everybody mourns the 
passing of Gus Dur whom the demonstrators derided, insulted and forced out 
of office. Students joined demonstrations led by Amien Rais in March of 
2001. Where have they all gone?  Will the activists of 2010 also disappear 
once their cynical job is done? Activists announced they would take to the 
streets in a force of