Wealth Hazards

WEDDING receptions for wealthy Indonesian-Chinese are always lavish, and the one I attended in Jakarta’s Sahid Jaya Hotel had more than 2,500 guests. As I moved to the front of an interminable line of well-wishers, I thought I was the only non-Chinese in the giant ballroom. But then a powerfully built young man with a dark complexion cut into the procession just a few places ahead of me. It was Hutomo (Tommy) Suharto, the youngest son of Indonesia’s president, arriving to offer his congratulations.

As Suharto ascended to the elevated stage where the wedding party was gathered, the line stopped moving and loud conversations turned into whispers. A photographer was prepared to record the moment, but it appeared that no one felt comfortable telling Suharto where to stand. Finally, after several awkward formal shots in which there were no smiles, Suharto strode toward the nearest exit, and the line began moving again.

GK

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G. Bruce Knecht

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WEDDING receptions for wealthy Indonesian-Chinese are always lavish, and the one I attended in Jakarta’s Sahid Jaya Hotel had more than 2,500 guests. As I moved to the front of an interminable line of well-wishers, I thought I was the only non-Chinese in the giant ballroom. But then a powerfully built young man with a dark complexion cut into the procession just a few places ahead of me. It was Hutomo (Tommy) Suharto, the youngest son of Indonesia’s president, arriving to offer his congratulations.

As Suharto ascended to the elevated stage where the wedding party was gathered, the line stopped moving and loud conversations turned into whispers. A photographer was prepared to record the moment, but it appeared that no one felt comfortable telling Suharto where to stand. Finally, after several awkward formal shots in which there were no smiles, Suharto strode toward the nearest exit, and the line began moving again.