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