[Opinion] Corruption of President

Even after the inauguration of a new President, the former President has not left his office, insisting ``I am a President.`` It happened in Indonesia. It is tantalizing to hear such a foreign news far from our land even though it`s absolutely none of our business. If one cannot hold a seat forever, he or she would rather turn the tables on his or her own will. However, the attachment to the power seems the same everywhere anytime.

The impeached former President Wahid was respected by the people as a Muslim leader before he was elected as a President two years ago. He won the Magsaysay Prize in 1993 for his contribution to the farmers and small-medium business and have bee supported by the low-income class since then. The crucial element for his impeachment is known as his appropriation of the public funds and donations. It seems not quite different from our situation.

Joseph Estrada, the former President of Philippine confined in a military hospital, is on trial. He was arrested in April this year for the charge of the corruption and the misappropriation, for which bail is not allowed and death penalty could be sentenced. He was born in a slum area and become famous as a film star and has enjoyed the strong support from the lower income class. But he did not make himself free from the trap of corruption. He is a typical failure of populism.

One more example. Carlos Menem, former President of Argentine, who had been praised for his key roles in the economic recovery, lost his election two year ago due to the corruption of the politicians and the bureaucrats of the ruling sectors. Recently he was arrested for the charge of arms smuggling. Alberto Fujimori, former Peru President who fled to Japan after the exposure of his corruption scandal, is also worried about the Japan`s response to the repeated claims for him by the Peru government.

``Corruption is the shortest way to the collapse of a country.``

This is the word of British Prime Minister William Gladstone. There are some people in this country who should be stung by these words.

youngji@donga.com