The danger of disintegration<\/p>\n
Two major developments have taken place in Irian Jaya. First,
\nstudents were shot, as in the mid-May Trisakti tragedy that led
\nto the downfall of Soeharto, and second, there have been growing
\ndemands for self-rule.<\/p>\n
Early warnings of the danger of national disintegration were
\ngiven as soon as the reform tide started to challenge the
\nprevailing official arrogance and the all too many prohibitions.
\nYet, no one imagined that the specter of disintegration would
\nemerge in various provinces in this unitarian state.<\/p>\n
This fear of disintegration is indeed well founded. The
\ndemands for reform have caused the government and the Armed
\nForces (ABRI) to feel nervous and be overly permissive toward
\nanything carrying the banner of reform.<\/p>\n
Amid all this we may well ask ourselves what powers are there
\nat present that have the necessary commitment and power to
\nsafeguard the sovereignty of the unitarian Republic of Indonesia?
\nCould it be ABRI? Or the government? Or the people?<\/p>\n
We are now in a stage of national lethargy. Our nationalist
\nsentiments are being tested. Our sense of belonging is being torn
\napart by differing political interests and by this brutal
\neconomic crisis.<\/p>\n
To prevent this nation from disintegrating, unifying symbols
\nare needed. We have our Pancasila national philosophy and the
\n1945 Constitution, but these alone are not enough. The support of
\na strong national leadership is necessary.<\/p>\n
-- Media Indonesia, Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/the-danger-of-disintegration-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }