Ex-Prez Suharto, and Indonesia's mixed (confused and confusing) legacy.

As soon as Indonesia's former President Suharto was taken ill again and hospitalised at the start of 2008, his legacy of political autocracy yet economic ascendency was again debated intensely, not just in the press but also on the streets; with people rioting against him or on the other hand literally hands raised in prayer for his recovery outside the hospital.

Other culprits that Indonesia's oh-so-free media and populace were banging have been (temporarily) forgotten in the frenzy of Suhartoism; be it America, the CIA, Australia or lately the bewildered Malaysians, who all in all, have in sober reality always been Indonesia's best friend in need.

Since Indonesia's economic turmoil and then political upheaval from 1997-98, it was politically incorrect to publicly praise Suharto's positive side for his country. But there's always been an undercurrent of nostalgia of the Suharto days when the bulk of the population could expect a stable income, an established way of handling the notorious corruption, and political forseance compared to after. Now some Indonesians have openly voiced their praise just as there are screams from reps of the alleged 100s of thousands of victims' who curse the same man.

What a confusing and embarassing situation for a nation that could be so great if only there were a more rational collective direction.

Oh, and just in case other peoples or nations feel glee and throw shame on Indonesia's less-than-proud circumstances - don't be so smug. The Europeans and Americans, the Chinese, the Indians and others all have their own shameful histories too. Some decidedly worse than the Indonesians'. We'll come to that when the time is right.