Feb 24

By Sayidiman Suryohadiprojo IT is difficult for ordinary Indonesian people to understand concern shown among foreign circles over the choice of Indonesia’s next vice president, to be elected during the General Session of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) in March. The interest began about one month ago, when a large part of the Western media suggested that Indonesia should refrain from electing Dr B.J. Habibie as the next vice president. He is viewed as a big spender and a danger for foreign investment. Even parochial local newspapers in the US, which rarely print news on Indonesia, took part in the character assassination. Then came a statement made by former Singapore prime minister Lee Kuan Yew, who suggested the same without mentioning Habibie by name. A former US ambassador to Indonesia, Paul Wolfawitz, also jumped on the bandwagon, airing criticisms in an interview with The Jakarta Post. It is difficult to believe that all these statements are made independent of some political agenda. They are allied to a read more .....