Japan creates its own wall<\/p>\n
Kornelius Purba
\nThe Jakarta Post
\nStaff Writer
\nSeminyak, Bali
\nkorpur@yahoo.com<\/p>\n
At 33, politician Kiyohiko Toyama from the New Komeito Party
\nperhaps is a commendable portrait of the younger Japanese
\npeople's inertia against Japan's much-criticized Official
\nDevelopment Assistance (ODA) for rampant corruption by the
\nrecipients and Japanese parties involved in managing the huge
\nfund.<\/p>\n
Speaking in the Third Asian Statesman's Forum last Tuesday,
\nToyama, an Upper House member, described his own finding during a
\nrecent visit to East Timor. He found that a power plant in the
\nnew state is not operated by the East Timorese, but by Japanese
\nand other expatriates.<\/p>\n
Toyama was furious when an East Timorese just replied,\"Let the
\nJapanese government comes back to fix it,\" when he was asked
\nabout the fate of the power station if one day Japanese people
\nleave Dili.<\/p>\n
\"We do not want to keep this dependent mentality,\" Toyama
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
For decades developing countries, especially Southeast Asian
\ncountries, are economically very dependent on Japan. Japan is an
\nendless source of cheap and easily abused loans, it imports
\nnearly everything and exports nearly all the needs of the people
\nin the regions. Its companies are very aggressive, at all means,
\nto win Japanese-funded projects. Nereus Acosta, a Filipino
\nCongressman, said in his speech that about 40 percent of the
\nPhilippine's annual budget, much of it from Japan, was corrupted.<\/p>\n
But who cares about Japan's own problems? Japan is still
\nunable to get rid of its economic crisis that hit 10-years ago.
\nIt is true. But look at another fact that despite its prolonged
\neconomic disaster, the country is still able to retain its
\nposition as the world's second biggest economy after the U.S. And
\nlook at the Japanese tourists who stay at five-star hotels in
\nBali and their shopping habits: they are rich people who are not
\naffected by their current economic hardship.<\/p>\n
The dependent mentality was also well reflected in the Bali
\nforum. When the session discussed religion and then the terrorist
\nnetwork in the region, Akiko Kato, a researcher from Keio
\nUniversity complained about the negative impacts of the fact that
\nthere was practically no religion in Japan.<\/p>\n
Her complaint was however considered as an opportunity to ask
\nfor further assistance from Japan. \"The fact that you are a non-
\nreligious country is a plus factor for you to help resolve
\ninterreligious conflicts in our region,\" said a participant from
\na neighboring country.<\/p>\n
Arifin Panigoro, an energy magnate and a legislator, openly
\nacknowledged that he had hosted the Bali meeting in his capacity
\nas a statesman and as a businessman. In one of the sessions, he
\nbriefed the participants, many of them were executives of
\nJapanese energy companies, about the lucrative prospect of
\nliquefied natural gas (LNG) from Indonesia.<\/p>\n
\"Honestly speaking, I want to you to import more of our LNG,\"
\nArifin said with a big smile.<\/p>\n
In the meantime, Japanese participants used their opportunity
\nto express their frustration, but it seemed unheard. Senior
\ndiplomat Makio Miyagawa explained about Japan's gloomy prospect,
\nincluding the failure of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to
\nrealize his economic reform package. Echoing Japanese public
\nsentiment against China's fast economic growth and its military
\nbuild up, the diplomat noted the necessity of anticipating
\nChina's new role in the region.<\/p>\n
\"We want a constructive engagement in facing China,\"
\nCoordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Gen.
\n(ret) Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said in response to Miyazawa's
\nconcerns. Again who cares with Japan's concerns as its neighbors
\nstill regard Japan as source of welfare and money?<\/p>\n
A few days before the Bali forum, in Jakarta President
\nMegawati Soekarnoputri received Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)
\nSecretary General Taku Yamasaki. Yamasaki is widely known for his
\nwide-ranging business interests here and his visit this time was
\nofficially aimed at celebrating Independence Day. The government
\noften regards Yamasaki as a defender of Indonesia, although for
\nmany Japanese he is nothing more than a money broker here.<\/p>\n
But now, how can Megawati expect Yamasaki's help, if his own
\npolitical career has been jeopardized by a sex scandal involving
\na woman?<\/p>\n
Toyama voiced the concerns of the younger Japanese that they
\nactually had also become the real victims of their government ODA
\npolicy. Their money as taxpayers is abused by government
\nofficials, while they are now facing higher unemployment rates
\nand even layoffs. They want more money to be used for their own
\nwelfare.<\/p>\n
On the opposite side, Yamasaki is the portrait of the old
\ngeneration of Japan who still grabs political power, who loves
\nhuge infrastructure projects because it is easier to get profit
\nfrom them rather than grass-root projects. The Japanese press
\nregularly report so many scandals, from corruption to sex,
\ninvolving top Japanese officials, especially those from the LDP.
\nHow can Koizumi implement his reform plan, like the banking
\nrestructuring plan and the reduction of megaprojects, if the
\nvested interest of top politicians are often disturbed by the
\nreform measures?<\/p>\n
How can Yamasaki preach about good governance to his hosts
\nhere, who know about his scandal, and some of them may even think
\nthey are smarter than Yamasaki in facing similar situations?<\/p>\n
Japanese participants at the forum clearly expressed their
\nhope Japan could retain its Asian leadership, but in the meantime
\nalso realized that it is likely only a matter of time before
\nChina takes over Japan's economic supremacy.<\/p>\n
Toyama is likely a prototype of the younger Japanese
\ngeneration: Fluent in English, smart and confident they know how
\nto improve Japan's economy. But they are facing a wall, a wall
\nnot created by their neighbors but by their own leaders.<\/p>",
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