Anti-Western protests causing new crisis
Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
House Speaker Akbar Tandjung said on Wednesday that protests and threats against Westerners had prompted unprecedented numbers of business travelers and holiday-makers to spend their tourist dollars somewhere other than Indonesia.
Akbar pointed out that a gloomy future in the tourism sector was imminent and that the government's target of 5.4 million visitors this year will not be achieved.
The recent waves of anti-Western street protests have forced 30 percent of the tourists who had already formally booked Indonesian trips to cancel their visit, he said.
"As a result, the government will lose about US$2 billion in potential revenues from the tourism sector alone," Akbar said in response to data from tourist agencies which does not consider the number of would-be travelers without reservations.
Anti-Western demonstrations and ethnic "sweeping" threats have subsided over the past week as many leaders including Vice President Hamzah Haz have repeatedly called on hardline Muslim groups to halt their destructive actions and to create a conducive atmosphere for the economy to recover.
Hamzah said that the drop in capital flows to Indonesia and the slowing economic activity in general would definitely impede economic recovery.
"The pressure (on the economy) will become even greater because the global economy is also suffering a recession," Akbar said after officially closing the House of Representatives' annual session.
Over the past three months, the House passed four bills into law for Papuan Special Autonomy, the state budget, an oil and gas law and an amendment to the anti-corruption law.
In addition, the House also passed its Internal Code of Ethics and Regulations, which is expected to improve its performance and image.
Akbar also raised concerns about the unchecked trafficking of women and children, which he said was a result of the rising rate of unemployment since the economic crisis began in 1997.
The thriving flesh trade, Akbar said, was only the tip of the iceberg in the social crisis arising from prolonged economic hardship.
"Our direct observation is that the House needs to push for Indonesia to ratify the 1949 UN Convention on Trafficking of Women and make our own laws banning trafficking of women and children," he said.
Akbar also promised to make a law which provides legal protection for Indonesians working overseas, which has become a national concern.
"Many Indonesians working overseas report mistreatment and Indonesia cannot do anything to protect them," he said.