Budiman Sudjatmiko's dream: Politicians who want Indonesia to emulate Hugo Chavez's Venezuela era

JAKARTA - There are not many world leaders who can be an inspiration to many people. However, that does not mean there are none. The world has ever known a charismatic leader from Venezuela. Hugo Chavez, his name. The President of Venezuela from 1999 to 2013 was considered the perfect embodiment of a pro-people leader.

Chavez used the agricultural products from Venezuela entirely for the prosperity of the people. The narrative made many people enchanted. Budiman Sudjatmiko even dreamed that Indonesian leaders would imitate the Venezuelan policy of the Hugo Chavez era to make the people prosperous.

Nationalism in Hugo Chavez does not need to be questioned. The man born in Sabaneta on July 28, 1954 chose a career in the military - the army. Chaves was then sent to eradicate the left rebels, which were largely led by farmers.

Later, Chaves began to think about why the peasants were fighting. Chavez even came to the conclusion that injustice was the root of the rebellion. The peasants felt that the government often abandoned the poor. Venezuela was also considered pro-United States (US) and corrupt.

Chavez's inner turmoil emerged. He began to study left-wing books. He wanted all Venezuelans to live prosperously through socialism. Chavez is not alone. He began to spread the same understanding to his colleagues in the army.

Later, Chavez and his friends named themselves the Revolutionary Bolivarian Movement-200. The group had attempted a coup in 1992 and failed. However, the failure did not make Chavez back down.

Chavez actually continued to get sympathy from all Venezuelans. He founded a new political party, the Fifth Republic Movement (now: United Socialist Party). Chavez targeted himself to participate in the 1998 election and won.

The victory made Chavez the President of Venezuela since 1999. He began to pour out his thoughts on pro-people policies and made Venezuela a socialist country.

The main step is to immediately nationalize foreign oil companies in Venezuela. Mainly, US oil giants, ExxonMobil and ConocoPhillips. The result of the nationalization that Chavez preached brought huge profits.

The profits from the oil industry were used by Chavez mostly for the prosperity of the Venezuelan people. Even though the US has always made Chavez an enemy. The US even supported Chavez's political opponents until the coup d'etat in 2002 and failed.

As a result, the failed coup was considered proof that Chavez was not afraid of US power. Chavez also became an idol for many world leaders.

"After being inaugurated on February 2, 1999, Chavez ordered the creation of a new constitution, in line with the Bolivar Revolution - a revolution that made Venezuela a socialist country. The revolution was taken from the name of the Venezuelan and Latin American independence hero, Simon Bolivar"

"He brought a lot of changes. The World Bank recorded the poverty rate in Venezuela fell from 62 percent in 2003 to 29 percent in 2009. The illiteracy rate also fell from seven percent to five percent in 2001-2007. His government was supported by soaring oil prices to US $ 146 per barrel and social programs in the fields of health and education, in cooperation with Cuba. Venezuela supplies oil to Cuba, in exchange for Cuba sending hundreds of doctors and sports trainers," said Sapto Yunus in his article in Tempo magazine titled "Looking for the Successor to the Bolivar Revolution" (2013).

Chavez's leadership in Venezuela is phenomenal. Chavez's existence even did not disappear when he died on March 5, 2013. Proof is that there are still many people who idolize him. In Indonesia, especially.

The activist who is now a politician, Budiman Sudjatmiko, never stops admiring Chavez's leadership in Venezuela. Budiman considers Chavez as the embodiment of a pro-people leader. Alias all kinds of policies made by Chavez have a big influence on his people.

The politician of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) dreamed that the Indonesian government would imitate Chavez's program. Budiman, assessing that Indonesia is not inferior to Venezuela in terms of natural resources. Something that is considered to be a lesson for the Indonesian government to make the people prosperous.

Budiman assessed that his dream could come true if the Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) government immediately opened its eyes. All of this is because Budiman has witnessed the positive impact of Chavez's policies on the poor. Budiman once visited Venezuela directly.

He saw that the profits of the oil sector were used to the greatest extent for the prosperity of the people. Whoever lives in a slum is immediately raised in status. Chavez gave them decent apartments.

Not to mention other facilities in the form of free education and health. In fact, Chavez is actively forging relations with other countries. Chavez is also known as a leader who dares to fight against the United States who wants to control the oil in his country.

As a result, 14 years of Chavez's policy are always remembered in the hearts of every Venezuelan citizen. Budiman considers Chavez's teachings can be useful for Indonesia if they dare to imitate.

"The people there, who originally lived in slums, were given decent apartments by the government. Here it's like a health center in Venezuela, but the facilities are more complete. Venezuela implements a barter policy with Cuba. Some of the oil is channeled to Cuba (Venezuela can get doctors)," said Budiman as quoted by the lamantempo.co, March 6, 2013.