Changing moods

Changing moods

I find that we Indonesians are very receptive to new ideas,
movements, etc. We quickly accept them, only to forget them in a
short time. For example, everybody was very enthusiastic about
the national discipline movement. Articles appeared in daily
newspapers and cadres wearing orange jackets directed traffic.
But not long afterward, things went back to their old ways: buses
stopped in inappropriate places, pedestrians ignored zebra
crossings and crossed the streets at will.

During the "love rupiah drive" important figures invited the
media to witness them selling their dollars. But their motives
behind this dollar selling was personal and commercial. When the
rupiah strengthens they can buy back their dollars.

People appeared to wholeheartedly donate their small
possessions of gold in answer to the call by the government in
its endeavor to solve the monetary and economic crisis. We do not
know how many kilos of gold were collected and where it is now
and what the government intends to do with the gold. The
government has been far from transparent in this case. But we
have the right to know.

Speaking of reform movements, university students, through
demonstrations, succeeded in changing our national history.
Unfortunately demonstrations go on and on, and in some places
violence persists. Such a phenomenon can easily be manipulated by
irresponsible elements to their benefit, hoping that the
population will blame the students for resorting to violence.
Why don't they stick to basic things, and avoid unruly action
which only makes the situation worse?

The problem now is how to create stability. Everybody should
calm down and go back to work and help solve the food problem. A
hungry man is a dangerous man. The government on its part can
perhaps borrow interest-free money from domestic foundations
(more than 50 in number) controlled by the ex-first family.
Bustanil Arifin (former chief of the State Logistics Agency)
stated in public that he had trillions of rupiah under his
control. And former vice president Soedharmono did the same. Also
the National Foster Parents Movement is a rich body. I recall
Soeharto once said that he was prepared to sacrifice his life if
necessary for the country, let alone money. There is also always
the profit earned by state companies.

I have the impression that the IMF is not very serious in
helping Indonesia. In fact, we would not need the IMF's loan if
the government could manage to use the domestic resources as
mentioned above.

Let each and everyone of us help in solving the crisis, at
least by helping to maintain law and order to create a conducive
working atmosphere.

SOEGIH ARTO

Jakarta