Lack of trust worsens economic crisis<\/p>\n
By Asip Agus Hasani<\/p>\n
YOGYAKARTA (JP): Many people have questioned why the
\nIndonesian rupiah continues to wane against the U.S. dollar
\nalthough the government has assured it is pursuing the
\nappropriate economic policies.<\/p>\n
But political observer and University of Gadjah Mada
\nsociologist Loekman Soetrisno maintains that the current crisis
\nis not merely a question of economics but also a matter of
\npolitical trust.<\/p>\n
In an interview with The Jakarta Post, Soetrisno underlines
\nthe need for the government to regain people's trust by tough
\npolitical action.<\/p>\n
Question: What will happen if the current crisis doesn't
\nsubside soon?<\/p>\n
Answerb: We'll go through a recession. Just imagine for a
\nminute, that right now in the mid of a monetary crisis we are
\nseeing mass layoffs and thousands of Indonesian workers abroad
\nare returning home. The rain we expected to come has not, so
\nfarmers cannot cultivate their land.<\/p>\n
We are looking at mass layoffs while prices keep soaring.<\/p>\n
Just think of what those people are going to do. When it comes
\nto that, when we're talking about the need to fill stomachs,
\npeople will do anything, including steal.<\/p>\n
Q: But aren't our economic fundamentals sound enough?<\/p>\n
A: It's completely untrue when people say we can easily face
\nthis. We should realize that we're much worse than Malaysia.<\/p>\n
Why? Because apparently our economic fundamentals aren't as
\nsound as we thought.<\/p>\n
Q: Are you optimistic the government can resolve this crisis?<\/p>\n
A: They can't resolve it, because both at home and abroad people
\nno longer trust the government.<\/p>\n
What are we to do? The rupiah is over Rp 6,000 (against the
\nU.S. dollar), even with Pak Harto looking healthy.<\/p>\n
Q: If the core of the crisis is no longer a monetary one but a
\nquestion of trust, what should the government do?<\/p>\n
A: The government should adopt a new strategy to regain that
\ntrust. It should change its strategy in facing the people.<\/p>\n
The government should be willing to release Sri Bintang
\nPamungkas. Why is he being charged when he didn't do anything?<\/p>\n
We cannot let the government continuously violate human
\nrights. Let (labor leader) Muchtar Pakpahan go. Let the PRD
\nactivists free.<\/p>\n
Why is the government doing this if it is just wasting time,
\nmoney and impairing the image of our nation?<\/p>\n
Acknowledge Megawati Soekarnoputri as the chairperson of PDI,
\ndon't keep on hounding her.<\/p>\n
If the government does all these things, then they can regain
\ntrust at home and abroad.<\/p>\n
What we need now is national harmony. Don't believe that those
\nthings can merely be discarded. This is a question of trust. It
\nisn't going to be remedied by intervention from Bank Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Q: But the government has mentioned some people who could incite
\ninstability...<\/p>\n
A: The government should stop inferring that some groups have a
\nbad intent toward the nation. The government should stop looking
\nfor a scapegoat.<\/p>\n
It is the government themselves who are at fault for
\nimproperly managing this country.<\/p>\n
Q: What else should be done?<\/p>\n
A: The second step is for the government to apologize to the
\nIndonesian people, for making them poorer in this crisis.<\/p>\n
Just look at the others. (Malaysian Prime Minister) Mahathir
\napologized, but our government has never apologized while its
\nclear that we are now all taking a step backward. The number of
\npoor is increasing.<\/p>\n
Q: What about efforts to eradicate corruption and collusion?<\/p>\n
A: As long as Indonesians define themselves as culturally
\ndifferent from others (foreigners) then corruption will persist.<\/p>\n
Corruption has become part of the culture. So if you want to
\nwipe it out, it must start from above.<\/p>\n
These things are old stories playing over and over again like
\na broken record, and many of us are already sick of talking about
\nit. We can shout about it as much as we want but nothing changes.<\/p>\n
What would happen if things just burst through suddenly? As a
\nsociologist, I'm quite fearful because even the government no
\nlonger listens to peaceful grievances.<\/p>\n
Q: What about the middle class? How will they react to this
\ncrisis?<\/p>\n
A: The point is that there is no such thing as a middle class in
\nIndonesia. What about the middle class?<\/p>\n
Don't expect anything from the middle class in Indonesia.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/lack-of-trust-worsens-economic-crisis-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }