What is ailing Indonesia?<\/p>\n
S.P. Seth
\nFreelance Writer
\nSydney
\nSushilPSeth@aol.com<\/p>\n
It is now four years since President Soeharto was forced out
\nof office following popular unrest against his regime. Much of
\nIndonesia's present problems stem from his long rule. For
\ninstance, the economy simply collapsed because it lacked
\nsubstance and depth. It was an edifice built on sand, and when
\nthe storm came it simply gave way. Politically, the illusion of
\nstability was built on a tightly controlled oppressive system
\nthat simply refused to acknowledge problems.<\/p>\n
Take the case of East Timor. It is possible to argue that
\nunder a flexible and responsive democratic system its separatism
\nmight have been resolved through an autonomy arrangement. But
\nthere was simply no give and take. And the same goes for the
\nfestering separatism in Aceh, Papua and elsewhere in the country.<\/p>\n
Because everything was bottled up during Soeharto's long rule,
\nit simply burst out when the steam was let off from Indonesia's
\npressure cooker society. And the long period of repression simply
\nhardened attitudes due to lack or absence of trust.<\/p>\n
Besides, the post-Soeharto political transition has hardly
\nbeen inspiring. From B.J. Habibie to Abdurrahman Wahid to the
\npresidency of Megawati Soekarnoputri, it has simply reinforced
\npopular cynicism. And why not: There is simply not much, if
\nanything, to celebrate. Habibie was a quirky personality, hardly
\nthe kind to preside over Indonesia's tumultuous transition. Wahid
\nwas colorful but erratic.<\/p>\n
President Megawati has the Messiah complex- kind of Mother
\nIndonesia. She regards the entire country as her nursery with the
\nmother knows it all kind of attitude.<\/p>\n
Which explains her dismissive attitude towards the media or
\nanyone else inclined to ask questions. The reality, though, is
\nthat she is lacking in a grasp of the multi-faceted crisis facing
\nIndonesia. She neither understands the problems nor has worked
\nout possible answers. Hence, her tendency to retreat into
\nsilence. Which elevates her to a pedestal where those below
\nappear ignorant and truant like wayward children.<\/p>\n
What are the country's problems? The foremost obviously is the
\neconomy. It was its sudden economic collapse that brought down
\nSoeharto. And there are no quick fixes. Therefore, the most
\nhonest course will be to take people into confidence and come
\nclean on the severity of the situation. Obviously, this will not
\nsatisfy people who are looking for actual economic relief. But
\nthis will set in motion a process of building up trust.<\/p>\n
This is what seems to be lacking most between Indonesia's
\npolitical leadership and its people. The people simply don't
\nbelieve that politics has much changed, and regard the entire lot
\nof politicians as corrupt species out to feather their own nest.
\nThere might even be some nostalgia for the Soeharto period when
\nthings were simple and predictable and not haywire as now.<\/p>\n
There is also a need to pay more attention to the country's
\nrural economy. A country of Indonesia's size and population, with
\na predominantly rural population, cannot resolve its problems by
\nconcentrating on urban (industrial) economy. Apart from its
\nlimited employment opportunities, it is much more subject to
\nvagaries of market. While agriculture is not only an economic
\nactivity, it is also a way of life for bulk of the Indonesian
\npeople. It is woven into the social and cultural fabric of the
\npeople, and hence is more cohesive and stable.<\/p>\n
Besides, an economic platform geared to rural development
\ncreates a sense of participation among people. Small and medium
\nagro-businesses can help to create more employment, and add depth
\nto rural economy.<\/p>\n
At the same time, the government might seek to coopt the
\ncountry's informal economy of independent workers selling small
\ngoods and services. By recognizing their status and providing
\naccess to loans and other facilities, these workers will be
\nmotivated to expand their range of economic activities.<\/p>\n
Which doesn't mean that Indonesia should retreat from
\nindustrial and information economy. What it means is that the
\ngovernment needs to create a sustainable balance between the
\nurban and rural sectors. Once there is some credible movement to
\nrevive and rejuvenate rural economy, popular cynicism is
\nlikely to subside over a period of time. Indonesia needs some
\nbold and spectacular government initiatives to create hope and
\ntrust with the people at large.<\/p>\n
Of course, there are outstanding problems of debt repayment
\nand the IMF pressure. But surely there is a new interest in
\nIndonesia's stability in the wake of the global terrorist threat.
\nAnd nothing is more stable than a new compact between a
\ngovernment and its people after a grassroots movement of
\nrural economic revival. Much of any country's religious extremism
\nis the result of poverty and a sense of hopelessness. And
\nIndonesia can set the pace in this regard.<\/p>\n
Even Indonesia's separatism might not seem as intractable in
\nthe midst of a new national mood of a general forward movement.
\nAs with the country's independence movement, Indonesia's needs an
\nover-riding goal to charge its batteries. President Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri could provide the required political leadership to
\ngalvanize her people, being the daughter of Indonesia's founding
\nfather. But will she? Not if she is simply rearranging
\nthe chairs to create a partnership with the military to
\nunderwrite her leadership. That will be like revisiting Soeharto
\nnightmare in a new garb.<\/p>",
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