Bleak December<\/p>\n
Instead of entering December with hope and anticipation for
\nhappiness in the new year, and joy at the end of the fasting
\nmonth of Ramadhan and the approaching Chinese New Year, the
\npeople of Indonesia have black eyes from lack of sleep and a
\nbleak prospect due to rising prices and economic hardship.<\/p>\n
Political analyst Soedjati Djiwandono complained in an article
\nof how Indonesia's foreign policy is now in a state of disarray
\nfollowing the emotional outburst of President Abdurrahman Wahid
\nwhen attending the informal ASEAN summit in Singapore.<\/p>\n
On the home front, things are in no less a state of disarray
\nwherever one looks. Not only economically and politically, but
\nculturally as well, the national spectacle is very discouraging
\nand confusing. For instance, how could members of the House of
\nRepresentatives, with some exceptions, approve a candidate for
\nthe Supreme Court chief who was a known sympathizer of the New
\nOrder regime?<\/p>\n
I am personally disappointed at why Kwik Kian Gie and friends
\nfrom his caucus have so far said or done nothing to stop the
\nprocess, not even protested. On the other hand, how could
\nPresident Abdurrahman Wahid accuse a House Committee set up to
\ninvestigate suspected shady dealings by the first executive, if
\nnot outright corrupt practices, be called an illegal attempt to
\nunseat the government, while in effect it is just an
\ninvestigation.<\/p>\n
Then we see the curiously sudden release of the governor of
\nBank Indonesia from detention at the Attorney General's Office.
\nHe returned to his post without trial, denying us the opportunity
\nto learn if he is guilty or innocent of any wrongdoing.
\nFortunately, the national currency is taking care of itself with
\nthe help of smugglers and counterfeit dealers.<\/p>\n
Rebellion in various provinces has not abated and the number
\nof refugees increases, with school children suffering the most,
\naccording to media reports.<\/p>\n
It seems that everything is moving in the wrong direction.
\nPrices move upward and morality downward, crime is breaking new
\nrecords and education is simply stalling. Of course, the rich are
\nnot affected, they will celebrate the change of the year in
\nluxurious hotels or abroad.<\/p>\n
I would like to cry out in this black and bleak month of
\nDecember: Let the corruptors roam freely for another decade but
\ngive the people something to eat, to dress their children and
\ncelebrate the New Year or Idul Fitri in a happy manner, at least
\nfor a week.<\/p>\n
GANDHI SUKARDI<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/bleak-december-1447899208", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }