Sectarian conflict real threat to unity: Edi<\/p>\n
SEMARANG (JP): Social problems generated from ethnic,
\nreligious and inter-group conflict are becoming a real threat to
\nthe nation's unity, Minister of Defense and Security Gen. (ret)
\nEdi Sudrajat warns.<\/p>\n
Edi said the increasing coverage in the mass media on worries
\nabout the ongoing sectarian trend shows that the threat is no
\nlonger an illusion.<\/p>\n
\"It will be wrong to think that the issue is fabricated by the
\nABRI (Armed Forces),\" Edi said when addressing a congress of the
\nAssociation of Indigenous Entrepreneurs (HIPPI) on Monday night.<\/p>\n
The minister said that issues related to ethnicity, religion
\nand social groups remain highly sensitive in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
\"It is indeed inconvenient to openly discuss the issues but
\nthe problem will linger as long as we do not try to resolve it,\"
\nhe told about 400 participants of the congress.<\/p>\n
Edi's warning on similar dangers was the second he made over
\nthe past week. Earlier last week, he said that bankers'
\nfavoritism of wealthy ethnic Chinese businessmen, in issuance of
\ncredit, may worsen social envy.<\/p>\n
In a country of 185 million people, where the gulf between the
\nrich and the poor is widening, the dominant role of ethnic
\nChinese entrepreneurs in economy is increasingly under scrutiny.<\/p>\n
On Monday, HIPPI supervisory board chairman Probosutedjo
\ncharged in the congress that Indonesia's entrepreneurs of foreign
\ndescent are \"less nationalistic\", for instance they often
\nthreaten to shift their investment overseas if they are not given
\nprivileges at home.<\/p>\n
Edi stressed on Monday on the need to strengthen national
\nunity, so that the nation will be strong enough to repulse
\nproblems which may have disintegrative impacts.<\/p>\n
He pointed out that one way to improve national stability is
\nto strengthen the economic resilience.<\/p>\n
He said that Indonesia should work hard to make its economy
\nsolid enough to face the negative impact of the oncoming world
\ntrade liberalization.<\/p>\n
Indonesia means to develop an economic system in which the
\nweak can survive because the strong businesses cannot take it
\nall, like one which is commonly practiced in the West.<\/p>\n
\"To achieve the goal, Indonesian businesses should always have
\nin mind things like equal distribution of state wealth, economic
\ndisparity and social envy. In other words, economic development
\nand empowerment of the poor should go hand in hand,\" Edi said.<\/p>\n
The minister also urged HIPPI members to become independent
\nand not rely on facilities from the government. \"A true
\nentrepreneur is characterized by his ability to grab a business
\nopportunity and never take the shortcut by trampling on business
\nethics and violating laws.\"<\/p>\n
He acknowledged that small-scale entrepreneurs will be
\ndifficult to grow if the economy is still dominated by a certain
\ngroup and if legal uncertainty prevails.<\/p>\n
The government should also play a more active role in creating
\na condition conducive for all businesses to grow on equal
\nfooting, he said. Bureaucrats should ease administrative
\nprocedures often seen as a barrier to business development.<\/p>\n
Edi also called on the public not to politicize the raging
\ndebate on the businesses of government officials' offsprings.<\/p>\n
\"The debate should be interpreted as a reflection of people's
\nwish to create equal business opportunities for all,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The debate on the business interests of government officials'
\nwas started recently by members of the House of Representatives,
\nwho want clear-cut regulations on that particular issue.<\/p>\n
Critics say that officials' children's lack professionalism in
\ndoing their business and rely on government facilities at the
\ncost of \"ordinary\" entrepreneurs.<\/p>\n
Others say that there is nothing wrong with officials'
\nchildren doing business as long as they do not abuse their
\nparents' power. (har\/pan)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/sectarian-conflict-real-threat-to-unity-edi-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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