Voices of concern<\/p>\n
The voices of concern are louder these days. Even Dr. Frans
\nSeda, former minister of finance and rector of Atmajaya Catholic
\nUniversity, has joined the chorus.<\/p>\n
As an political and economic commentator is well known for his
\nnormally pro-New Order views.<\/p>\n
We need then, to ask why in a recent seminar at the Institute
\nfor Social Institution Studies (ISIS) in Jakarta last week, Frans
\nSeda commented that the current political and economic situation
\nwas frustrating.<\/p>\n
Dr. Seda criticized the decline of general morality in
\npolitical, economic, social spheres, in addition to the crisis of
\nconfidence in our laws, their enforcers and in government
\nauthority.<\/p>\n
A university professor who rarely criticizes the government,
\nnow says that the relationship between the state and religion is
\nfar from optimal. Seda claims that structural and political
\nobstacles obstruct implementation of policies as prescribed by
\nthe state ideology, Pancasila.<\/p>\n
All this, according to the usually silent scholar, is the
\nreason why even minor conflict can cause people to take the law
\ninto their own hands, and go wild rioting.<\/p>\n
Similar feelings of concern were expressed by Prof. James
\nClark, of Georgetown University, Washington D.C.in an interview
\nwith the Voice of America's last week.<\/p>\n
Clark mentioned a number of cases which in long run, could have
\na adverse consequences for Indonesia.<\/p>\n
On East Timor, for example, Indonesia is on the defensive.
\nIndonesia has revealed an unwillingness to engage in dialogue
\nwith Portugal under the auspices of the UN. Ramos Horta, a Nobel
\nPrize laureate, is now free to speak in a number of universities
\nin the U.S.<\/p>\n
Other issues which may cause negative results are LIPPO's
\ndonation to Bill Clinton's campaign which will be scrutinized by
\nthe Republican Party for as long as Clinton is in power. Human
\nrights issues will also erode American sympathy for Indonesia.
\nAnd finally, there is the delayed sale of F-16 fighters.<\/p>\n
A greater reason for concern, however, is the upcoming general
\nelection. According to the American scholar, the election will
\nnot be free of violence, even in it's aftermath.<\/p>\n
In Washington, Clark has founded the Southeast Asian
\nInternational and Strategic Studies Institute in America, to
\nraise the publics weak awareness of Indonesia in comparison to
\nsay, Vietnam.<\/p>\n
Frans Seda and James Clark deserve a triple "bravo". Their
\nconcern for Indonesia is moving. Perhaps it is we are indifferent
\nand lack concern, wasting three hedonistic decades.<\/p>\n
-- Merdeka, Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/voices-of-concern-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }