Wimar on Indonesian students today and his campaign for vice president

From KABAR Indonesia, Vol. II Issue 12, 2007

Wimar's Perspective

Political analyst, talkshow host, former presidential spokesman to Gus Dur (a time documented in his memoir No Regrets), avid blogger, communications specialist and one of those gentlemen who seem to be eternally surrounded by an assortment of adoring ladies. Wimar Witoelar speaks to KABAR about student days, SBY and his own budding vice-presidential campaign.

K: You have experienced interesting times in Indonesia's history, some turbulent times: you've been involved with 2 student movements...

WW: I have experienced all of Indonesia’s history except the first four years after I was born, when I couldn't understand. From '49 on I do remember.

I was involved in two major student movements, the '66 one which ousted Soekarno and brought in Soeharto and '98, we all know what happened there. I was also very active in the '78 student movement, which actually was the first open rebellion against Soeharto by students. In Indonesia anything you said that was less than complimentary about Soeharto was quite risky, so actually saying we didn't want him got you in jail; in fact, I was in jail '78 so that was a defining moment.

K: How active are Indonesian students today?

WW: I think they are just as active as students were in my day. Student activism is always contextual, it's not driven by some innate ideology except maybe by a biological phase of a person's life, the need for excitement, the courage, the experimentation. They all react to whatever is happening. So if Soeharto makes things smooth and nobody really knows what's going wrong, students don't do anything. But if suddenly the country goes into economic crisis, or there's a moral crisis, then students react: it's just action against reaction.

K: Do you think they have much to react against nowadays?

WW: Yes, but it's getting more difficult because it's like your body is itching but you don't know where. So you spend a lot of time trying to find where you can scratch to get rid of the itch. Yesterday a student asked me, why is that we cannot trust this government? She doesn't know quite what's wrong with it but she knows something is wrong.

That's why I am very happy I'm in the area of communications because we can help people understand by highlighting phenomena in society, like if you have a picture, by setting the contrast, the brightness, the focus that you think is sharpest.

Otherwise, if you look at SBY, everything is a blur. It's quite a pleasant blur but it's a blur. He's what the Beatles call a Nowhere Man: You don't know where he stands. He hasn't done any work practically in 2 years except just doing the ceremonial stuff. Howard likes SBY, Bush likes SBY, the Western press likes him... but we are not getting the service that we expect from a president with a 61% mandate.

K: You have described Gus Dur as "the greatest man I have ever known". Can you tell us a little about the impact that he has had on your life?

WW: He just touches me because he is inspiring, trustworthy and most of all fun. Always has an angle, on everything. So we would sit and watch the world go by and exchange wisecracks on every guest that came in. But when you have to get serious, he can expound very articulately on Jefferson's theory of democracy, on the Lenin revolution, and especially of course on Islamic history, on anything. So being with him is just like being at a teach-in every day. And no pressure. He is like the Robert Redford character in Indecent Proposal-I will not ask you to do anything you don't want to!

K: Would you like to be presidential spokesman today?

WW: No, I have actually announced my availability to be a vice president. I'm just saying I am here, if you want a better vice president than this one, or the one before, or any vice president, I am here. Because today is the age of communications, you need some political decency. SBY does not have a vice president who communicates for him or for the country. And he does not have a vice president who is decent. Anyone wants me, a nice guy, communicative guy, I'm here, if you find a better one, please.... I think the country is in need of good people and I like incidences like Faisal Basri, Sarwono, running for governor when they know they don't have a chance. But at least, you know, if you're really unhappy about the situation and you're unhappy about complaining all the time, try running!

K: So you think there is a spirit that wasn't there before?

WW: Gus Dur brought in the concepts of democracy and also showed that anybody can be anything if he or she knows his or her capabilities and the opportunities. Prime example is myself, I'm just a guy, maybe a little more observant than others but I never had a government position. I had never stepped once in the presidential office, I had never met Gus Dur and the reason he knows me is from my writing, from my appearances on TV. And the reason I appeared on TV or in journals is not through connections, but just because I write and people like what I write. And this campaign for the vice-presidency is also going to be like that. I will not bribe anyone, I will not misuse campaign funds and if they want me I am in. My inspiration would be the chance that I would inspire others.