A loss of reason

A loss of reason

In times of crisis base emotions often triumph over reason.
For Indonesians, this age-old axiom is not hard to understand at
this particular point in their history as a nation. It is, after
all, a truism that explains the wave of unrest and rioting that
has in the past weeks hit a growing number of towns in several of
this country's provinces. Accustomed to three decades of economic
growth and relative affluence, most Indonesians still seem dazed
by the sudden and drastic turn which developments have taken in
the past months. And as the crisis continues and has begun to
affect the lives and livelihoods of an increasing number of
people, disbelief has often turned to impatience and anger in
many.

Although, generally speaking, it cannot be said that
Indonesians as a people are prone to violence, cases of unrest
and violence are certainly no extraordinary phenomena in this
country. Clashes have occurred from time to time in past years
between the authorities and groups of protesters with grievances
ranging from corruption to human rights abuses. Usually, the
authorities have little problem putting down such disturbances
and calm is restored until another issue rises to the surface. In
the case of the present wave of riots that has hit a number of
towns in the provinces, however, some new elements exist to
warrant a more cautious approach in our efforts to quell the
unrest. As media reports indicate, the most important, if not the
single motive of the unrest so far has been the rising prices of
some of the most basic commodities.

Even in Jakarta, where for security reasons sufficient stocks
are probably maintained better than in the regions, complaints
can be heard daily that basic necessities such as rice, sugar,
cooking oil and milk have become almost unaffordable to people in
the lower income categories, pushing up prices of secondary
commodities. As sustained hunger makes people desperate, it is
easy enough to understand that many people turn to rioting to
vent their anger against anyone or anything they perceive as
being the culprits in a situation. There can be little doubt that
the authorities in Jakarta are well aware of these circumstances
and take this background into account as they try to maintain
public order. It is to be hoped the same wisdom will inspire the
regional authorities in their actions.

One disturbing element in all this meanwhile deserves to be
mentioned. The situation that prevails at present makes it all
too easy for unscrupulous elements to use the people's grievances
for their own interests and to incite people to commit acts of
violence, particularly against minority groups, who, being more
or less defenseless, make the most convenient scapegoats on whom
to blame anything that goes wrong. In the riots that have rocked
our provincial towns lately it is reportedly Chinese shop owners
who have been the victims. Humanitarian considerations aside,
such acts clearly violate our own professed ideal of building a
single unified nation, undivided by differences of race or creed.
Of more immediate importance is the fact that such violence
disrupts the normal course of business in the locality and thus
obstructs rather than helps efforts to ensure the public's
economic interests.

In conclusion it may be useful to remind ourselves that the
unrest and violence of the past days are one aspect of the crisis
we, Indonesians, are at present experiencing as a nation. In such
a situation, all of us -- both in government and outside --
should have the good sense to avoid anything that could deepen
our anguish, muster the wisdom to ponder on whatever may have
gone wrong and make the necessary corrections in a peaceful and
orderly manner.