Bitter IMF pills to swallow

Bitter IMF pills to swallow

If the IMF administers a transfer payment to the Indonesian
government it will be caving in, giving the alcoholic a drink,
the chocoholic a Kit-Kat, the grounded teenager a ticket to the
prom on Saturday night. But, sometimes, it's easier for parents
to give in and let their kids off the hook.

As quoted in the Post, President Soeharto and a couple of his
children said Tuesday that the family principle is the basis of
Indonesian economics. Therefore, the Soeharto administration and
the first family must hold firm to the agreement made with the
IMF "parents" back in January.

It takes medicine to cure an illness, the prescribed pills
must be swallowed, not tossed over the shoulder, then denial used
as a crutch. How much clearer can it be? Take the pills, the
sickness will abate. There is no issue of dignity, interference,
outside dictation or repression in the healing economies of South
Korea, Thailand and the Philippines.

It's crystal clear, black and white, elementary, my dear
Watson: stick to the 50-point IMF agreement signed and sealed by
the President in front of the press and the Indonesian people in
January. Then, the 200 million hardworking people of Indonesia
can reap the benefits and rewards from access to the IMF's US$43
billion. These reciprocal funds are available to turn this sow's
ear into a potential silk purse of recovery.

Like any good parent, the IMF is only doing it for the good of
the kids. Parents never like to see their children suffer but, if
they need to be disciplined, parents know what is best for them
in the long run.

BRIAN FRANKS

Jakarta