IMF and Rizal Ramli<\/p>\n
I read with interest Rizal Ramli's response Editorial on IMF
\n(July 19, 2001) to The Jakarta Post's editorial IMF's ominous
\nmessage (July 17, 2001) and can understand his obvious
\nindignation. Let's face it, he is the man most responsible for
\nthe economy and is therefore the person right in the firing line
\nwhen it comes to any high-level meetings with the International
\nMonetary Fund (IMF) representatives.<\/p>\n
None of us enjoy failure, or for that matter the finger of
\nblame pointed directly at one's feet, but then if you are \"the
\nman\" then you must accept the criticism. I doubt if there is an
\nIndonesian anywhere in this country who does not think that the
\nIMF left with a feeling of uncertainty as lack of confidence in
\nthe whole political arena is street talk and general knowledge.<\/p>\n
The Post article was not at all damning, in fact after reading
\nit I thought \"tell us something new\". This news is well-known and
\nthe sad story has been written many times over the past six
\nmonths or so. I am not sure why Rizal Ramli categorized the
\nreaders of the Post as \"unsuspecting public\" as most subscribers
\nI know draw on their own intelligence to come up with their own
\nassessment of anything they read. Sure the article was critical
\nand quite rightly so as we all live in Indonesia under a cloud of
\nuncertainty, which is a direct product of this administration and
\nthe House of Representatives (DPR) in general. No one here has
\nany great confidence in anything that is happening, likely to
\nhappen or for that matter already happened, as just around the
\ncorner another major disaster is about to destroy whatever good
\nthat has been achieved.<\/p>\n
The fact that many IMF board members are busy packing their
\nshorts and fishing rods for their August vacation is really
\nbesides the point, as this lack of confidence has been around
\nsince this administration took office.<\/p>\n
There are indeed good reasons for the many failures, most of
\nwhich never truly reached the surface. When you look at the
\ncorruption and mudslinging associated with the financial scandals
\nrelated to Bank Bali, Bulog, state enterprises, the bank
\nrestructuring and everything else that has gone unpunished or
\nswept under the carpet, then no wonder everyone is laughing at
\nthe developments and the people involved. It has reached a stage
\nfar beyond being pathetical, and Rizal Ramli is but one of the
\nunfortunate human beings locked in the fiasco of an abysmal
\nadministration.<\/p>\n
What does Rizal Ramli really expect when the public witnesses
\nday after day the disgraces of the so-called elite in this
\ncountry, who without thought or care for the masses, go their own
\nsweet and merry way to ensuring they get the biggest slice of the
\ncake.<\/p>\n
Sensible agreement can never be reached in this country as
\nsomewhere down the line, someone powerful has a vested interest
\nin something, so progress for the good of the country goes right
\nout the window. Everybody knows this, and so its no wonder the
\nIMF came to Indonesia but left their signing pen at home.<\/p>\n
Despair, frustration, mistrust and lack of confidence is what
\nare being generated in Jakarta. And the reality of the situation
\ntoday is that the IMF will not part with its much needed cash to
\na country that is riddled with inefficiency, corruption and
\nstagnation.<\/p>\n
DAVID WALLIS<\/p>\n
Medan, North Sumatra<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/imf-and-rizal-ramli-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }