What if Java decided it was time to go it alone?<\/p>\n
A visiting American friend asked me how things were and I poured
\nout my grievances, glad for an eager listener.<\/p>\n
I told him my biggest concern was that there would be no more
\nIndonesia. It just seemed to me that there was no end to this
\ntunnel of confusion that was our own doing: Repression,
\ncorruption, party in-fighting, the secessionist movements.<\/p>\n
I went on and on, citing examples that, to me, were tantamount
\nto our digging our own grave. And, in the blink of an eye,
\nIndonesia disappeared. End of story.<\/p>\n
I was about to embark on another long lamentation of our fate
\nas a nation when my friend jolted me with a question: \"What if
\nJava secedes?\"<\/p>\n
I looked at him, stunned.<\/p>\n
\"You won't be able to feed the people.\"<\/p>\n
I went home, troubled by his question. Yes, what if Java --
\nBanten, West Java, Central Java, and East Java -- seceded?<\/p>\n
Under the name Kingdom of Java? No, that would be returning to
\nthe \"dark\" ages. Democratic Republic of Java? That would be more
\nfitting, and the \"democratic\" label would surely gain support
\nfrom the world community.<\/p>\n
Aren't they pushing for democracy, after all? And most
\nimportant, the new nation would shed the label many Westerners
\nand non-Javanese attach to the Javanese -- that they are
\ncolonizers of outer regions.<\/p>\n
It's fortunate that previous governments have concentrated
\nmost of the elements that make up the basis of a sovereign
\ncountry on Java: defense, economy and finance, technology and
\nindustry, education and culture. In short, Java meets all the
\nrequirements for a sovereign, self-sufficient nation.<\/p>\n
But how are we going to feed the people, as pointed out by my
\nfriend? (Indeed, he said it in such a way I was beginning to
\nsuspect he was sorry he ever came up with the idea).<\/p>\n
At the office, I asked a friend the same question.<\/p>\n
\"No way, it can't survive on its own,\" came the answer.<\/p>\n
True, Java has too large a population for its own good, which
\nexplains why successive governments have packed off its citizens
\nto other islands from its mostly barren, water-poor land.<\/p>\n
But look at Singapore. It is nothing compared to Java in terms
\nof size and natural resources, but it has managed to become one
\nof Asia's richest, most advanced countries.<\/p>\n
I suddenly felt more optimistic about the scheme. Yet, the
\nonly fear I have is that if Java declares independence, Australia
\nmight grab Papua, the whole Timor island and Maluku
\n(predominantly Protestant and Catholic areas), with Bali as
\nanother possibility (many Australians already own many of Bali's
\ntourist facilities, anyway); Singapore might invade Batam,
\nprobably Riau as well, for much-needed sand.<\/p>\n
Then Malaysia might take over Aceh because of religious
\nsentiment and then probably the rest of Kalimantan for good
\nmeasure; China might occupy the Spratly and Natuna islands. And
\nthere is nothing the regions could do against the invaders
\nbecause they don't have the means to defend themselves.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the Muslim-populated regions in West Nusa Tenggara,
\nSouth Sulawesi, Central Sulawesi and Southeast Sulawesi, Ternate
\nand North Maluku may decide to remain with Java because of
\nreligious leanings and because they, too, have no defenses.<\/p>\n
There is always the possibility that Java may say no to their
\nintention of joining the new nation as it would be too busy
\nwarding off invasion from those satellite nations.<\/p>\n
A fanciful notion, perhaps -- what do you think?<\/p>\n
-- Sheila Putri<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/what-if-java-decided-it-was-time-to-go-it-alone-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }