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What do you do with a dying dictator?


He was adulated and when he fell from power he was reviled. Now the same people who pandered to him and spat at him are paying their (almost) last respects to him. The irony of it all.
clipped from perspektif.net
Respects Paid to Dying Suharto

By SETH MYDANS
Published: January 8, 2008

JAKARTA, Indonesia — It was the place to be seen over the weekend, the hospital bedside of Indonesia’s former strongman, Suharto, who was driven from office 10 years ago and is now hovering near death as his heart and kidneys weaken.

The president, the vice president, a former president and a small parade of the country’s power elite came to pay their respects.

They emerged with the news late Sunday that after being examined by 40 doctors and placed on a dialysis machine, Mr. Suharto, 86, was awake and had managed a smile and a weak handshake.

By Monday morning, his condition had stabilized, said Dr. Joko Raharjo, one of the many doctors who have cared for Mr. Suharto since he was admitted Friday to Pertamina Hospital with swollen intestines, a dangerously low heart rate and anemia.
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6 responses to “What do you do with a dying dictator?”

  1. adit Avatar
    adit

    In my opinion the whole Suharto drama is a joke. As a human being, I do feel sorry for the old guy, but it’s not enough to forgive him for what he has done to this nation.

    Oke lah he has done this and that to Indonesia, but the his legacy (a.k.a corruption) is more destructive than the benefits that he brought. We shouldn’t look only at the tangible contributions that Suharto did, but we also need to look at the intangible ones too.

    To forgive him will set a bad example in the fight against corruption. The next breed of corrupt government officials can simply do the same. It’s not about human rights, sympathy or whatever. It’s about justice, and justice shouldn’t be blinded by old age.

    He is dying now (at least that what his side wants us to believe) and for this, he’s unlikely to stand trial. Well, at least not in this world. I can only hope God will give him what he deserves.

    He is asking for forgiveness. He may get it from others, but not from me.

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  2. The Spirit of Freedom Avatar
    The Spirit of Freedom

    Hahahaha …… Soeharto is still the greatest actor in the world even in his last day…. He is still playing as a “God” for his cronies (Golkar, TNI and Cleptocracy)..

    we (maybe) can consider to forgive if Soeharto and his family shows their good faith … return all of “stolen” funds to our people …

    I believe Allah will execute him “fairly” if our law can’t do that..

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  3. Achmad Sudarsono Avatar
    Achmad Sudarsono

    Dear Pak Adit.

    Hallo Friend. As an anak bangsa and pejuang Pancasila, I suggest that you re-read the butir-butir of the Pancasila to purify your thoughts about the Father of Development, Haji Moh. Suharto. He built our country and defended it from communism, bringing prosperity and development to Indonesia.
    Friend, it saddens me that the younger generation like you don’t have more respect for your seniors and the generasi pendiri (founding generation) like Bpk Soeharto. Friend, to slander Pak Harto is to slander the whole Indonesian nation. Why would you do that, Friend ?

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  4. Achmad Sudarsono Avatar
    Achmad Sudarsono

    P.S. there was a spelling mistake because I have been reading the bule press which mistakenly spells the name Suharto when it should be Soeharto.

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    […] hari yang lalu saya bilang di blognya Unspun bahwa saya tidak akan memberi maaf. Pertimbangan saya karena kerusakan yang sudah dilakukan Pak Harto jauh lebih besar dibanding […]

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