Wealth gap threatens national unity: Experts<\/p>\n
By Wahyudi M. Pratopo<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): As officials grow more concerned with the
\npossibility of national disintegration, two leading scholars say
\nIndonesia could prevent such a process from taking place by
\ntackling the problem of the widening gap between the rich and
\npoor.<\/p>\n
Juwono Sudarsono of University of Indonesia and Mubyarto of
\nGadjah Mada University are calling for a revamping of the
\ngovernment's economic development policies, which they feel
\nshould give greater attention to the needs of average people and
\nless to powerful conglomerates.<\/p>\n
\"Now it's the time for the government to stand up for the poor
\nand weak people after supporting the powerful businesses for so
\nlong,\" said Mubyarto, an economist who is also an aide to the
\nChairman of the National Development Planning Board (Bappenas).<\/p>\n
\"Indonesian leaders will have to make more serious efforts to
\novercome imbalances between the powerful business groups and the
\nvast majority of people who still live below the poverty line,\"
\nsaid Juwono, a lecturer on international politics and a deputy
\ngovernor of the National Reliance Institute (Lemhannas).<\/p>\n
The two men were speaking on Tuesday at a one-day discussion
\non national resilience at the University of Indonesia. The
\nseminar, which featured the two scholars as speakers, was jointly
\norganized by the state-run university and Lemhannas, a think tank
\nagency of the Ministry of Defense and Security.<\/p>\n
Lemhannas Governor Lt. Gen. Moetojib said in keynote address
\nthat the threat of national disintegration has been further
\naugmented by the rapid process of globalization.<\/p>\n
Moetojib said the weakening sense of nationalism among
\nIndonesians is another factor that could lead to the breaking up
\nof the nation. \"As a heterogeneous nation, we have to watch out
\nfor even the smallest factors that could lead to disintegration.\"<\/p>\n
University of Indonesia Rector M.K Tadjudin in his opening
\nremarks also pointed out that history has shown that the rise and
\nfall of nations were often related to aspects of welfare as well
\nas security.<\/p>\n
As Indonesia is marking its 50th independence anniversary,
\ngovernment and military officials have warned of threats to
\nnational integrity.<\/p>\n
The breaking up of the former Yugoslavia, the former Soviet
\nUnion, and the ethnic wars in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Chechnya
\nhave raised concerns here at home that Indonesia, a sprawling
\narchipelago nation of diverse ethnic and tribal groups and
\ncultures, could follow suit if preventive actions are not taken.<\/p>\n
Juwono said the increasing income disparity between the rich
\nand poor could set off conflicts between the rich and the poor
\nand even take on racial, ethnic or religious overtones.<\/p>\n
He said that one way of redressing the imbalance is to change
\nbank credit policy by giving small and medium enterprises more
\naccess to loans. \"A major transformation of the credit structure
\nmust be instituted through concerted government political will
\nand action,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Mubyarto, an economist that has long looked at the problems of
\npoverty in Indonesia, said the government has made the right
\nstart with the launching of the presidential aid program
\nspecifically for the poor.<\/p>\n
Known by the Indonesian acronym IDT (Inpres Desa Tertinggal),
\nthe program was launched in April last year. Under the program,
\nthe government sends out parcels of Rp 20 million to more than
\n20,000 villages in the country with large populations of poor
\npeople. The money is given directly to community groups, who then
\ndecide for themselves how the money will be allocated.<\/p>\n
Results from the first year of the program have been very
\nencouraging.<\/p>\n
Mubyarto said that while one of the chief objectives of the
\nIDT program is to bridge the wealth gap, gaps between regions and
\nbetween rural and urban areas could also be narrowed.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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