Foreign aid and Sukarno's warning<\/p>\n
Juwono Sudarsono, Professor School of Social and Political
\nSciences, University of Indonesia, Jakarta<\/p>\n
During his visit to the United States in May, 1956, founding
\npresident Sukarno addressed a joint session of the U.S. Congress
\non Capitol Hill. One of the most stirring remarks Sukarno made
\nwas: No Niagara of dollars can save us, the people of Indonesia,
\nunless we effectively use that assistance for the benefit of all
\nIndonesians.<\/p>\n
Sukarno's "No Niagara of dollars" speech came across my mind
\nas I watched and listened to media reports on President Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri's recent visit to the U.S. and Japan from Sept. 18
\nto Sept. 30.<\/p>\n
Sukarno's warning against Indonesian complacency after being
\noffered foreign aid wasn't exactly heeded throughout Soeharto's
\ntenure as president from 1966 to 1998. Although Soeharto
\nsuccessfully transformed Indonesia throughout his 30-year rule,
\nhis presidency was marred by widespread collusion not only among
\nhis immediate family but particularly among the web of his
\nsycophants in the national, provincial and local bureaucracies
\nand their associated business cronies.<\/p>\n
We were made complacent because of our exaggerated notions of
\nbeing, in the words of president Nixon in 1967, "the prize in
\nAsia" in the wake of the failed coup by the Indonesian communist
\nparty in 1965; of being the most politically, economically and
\nstrategically important Southeast Asian country; of being the
\nanchor of Southeast Asian stability; and of being the recipient
\nof billions of dollars of foreign assistance from North America,
\nEurope and Japan.<\/p>\n
President Megawati's recent visit to the U.S. was preceded by
\nfavorable signals from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and
\nthe World Bank of a new era in economic policy making. After a
\nyear of erratic and mercurial leadership under former president
\nAbdurrahman Wahid, Indonesia now has a president and vice
\npresident who promise firmness and focus in national governance.<\/p>\n
There was promise of a predictable, if incremental, government
\nthat was in command, which had clear objectives and was willing
\nto undergo the painful and patient process of establishing good
\ngovernance and economic reform.<\/p>\n
Throughout her visit to the U.S., President Megawati assured
\nthe American government and business leaders of her commitment to
\nundertake the necessary measures to ensure that Indonesian
\neconomic recovery would be based on sustainable efforts to
\nimprove conditions that would facilitate foreign investment --
\nincluding the all important reform in the legal and judiciary
\nsystem.<\/p>\n
Even before the visit, Indonesia received favorable signals
\nabout the impending IMF funds of US$400 million, prospects of
\ngetting $4.8 billion in the coming Consultative Group on
\nIndonesia meeting, commitments of some $650 million incorporating
\neconomic, trade, financing and military assistance packages from
\nthe U.S. and the rescheduling of $2.8 billion out of the $5.2
\nbillion debt due by March 2002.<\/p>\n
The question now is: Will all Indonesians be willing to strive
\nfor improvements at all levels of government to ensure that all
\nof these forms of assistance be "effectively utilized to the
\nbenefit of all Indonesians," as Sukarno warned in May 1956?<\/p>\n
Will Indonesian business people and their friends in high
\nplaces be willing to look at this as an opportunity to work
\ntogether and persistently work out solutions to resolve our
\neconomic, political and social problems. Or will Sukarno's "No
\nNiagara of dollars" warning fall on deaf ears and Indonesia's
\npolitical and business leaders resort once again to lethargy and
\ncomplacency?<\/p>\n
This article is abridged and adapted from the Indonesian
\nversion published in Kompas on Sept. 30.<\/p>",
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