Christmas in a time of crisis

In Indonesia this year, Christmas is being celebrated in unfavorable sociopolitical and economic conditions. On the social and political plane, the people are in an euphoric mood over the prospect of reform, which unfortunately has brought with it some ominous negative effects. On the economic plane, this nation is still in the midst of a protracted crisis.

The current economic crisis in Indonesia -- and in many other countries -- is in reality built on a basis of a crisis of humanity. Blinded by accomplishment, people have lost control of themselves. Means and objectives are being confused. Material wealth is considered to be a main objective of life. As a result, religious life has become shallow. This phenomenon is afflicting young people all over the world. The gap between the rich and the poor becomes wider, the poor feeling increasingly helpless while the rich become increasingly powerful.

This is the actual phenomenon that underlies the current crisis of humanity of which the economic crisis is an expression. For this reason, the ongoing economic crisis lends a special relevance to Christmas this year since both have their origin in a crisis of humanity. The current economic crisis, therefore, should in no way dampen the Christmas mood. For those who understand the true significance of Christmas, such a condition actually makes the occasion more meaningful.

-- Bisnis Indonesia, Jakarta

;JP;HPR; ANPAk..r.. Otheropinion-China-Rights So, what about China? JP/4/OTHER1

So, what about China?

So now we know the cost of speaking freely in China: 13 years behind bars. That is the sentence handed down after a sham trial to Xu Wenli, who tried to organize a Chinese Democratic Party. Follow democrats Wang Youcai and Qin Yongmin were sentenced to 11 years and 12 years, respectively. None was allowed to mount a defense.

In October, China's Communist rulers signed, to great self- congratulation and international acclaim, a treaty that recognizes freedom of speech and freedom of association as universal rights. Mr. Xu and his colleagues have now been sent back to the Chinese gulag for seeking to exercise them.

Mr. Xu, 55, spent 12 years in prison after supporting a fledgling democracy movement back in 1979. Most of those years were in solitary confinement; for long stretches he was deprived of visits. Mr. Wang, 32, a former leader in the democracy movement of 1989, spent most of 1991 in prison. Mr.Qin, 44, has served seven years in prison and three in labor camps for prodemocracy activities. Yet all three, and many others, had the courage to continue speaking up for liberty.

The cynicism of China's dictators was only highlighted by their decision to release into exile, simultaneously with their crackdown against these and other democrats, a labor activist named Liu Nianchun. Mr. Liu had spent the past three years undergoing "reeducation through labor". His release is to be welcomed, although forced exile should not distract attention from the dozens of arrests and imprisonments of recent months, nor from the thousands who remain in captivity for political or religious offenses.

Long ago, the Clinton administration dropped any links between trade and human rights in its China policy. Then, just about one year ago, the administration and its allies in Europe shrunk even their efforts at public diplomacy, abandoning their campaign to draw attention to China's human rights record. The idea was that quiet diplomacy would work better than public condemnation. Now the results are in. How will the West respond?

-- The Washington Post

;JP;HPR; ANPAk..r.. Otheropinion-Europe-Britain Britain's place in Europe JP/4/OTHER4

Britain's place in Europe

The newly robust stance adopted by Tony Blair in defense of Britain's place in Europe is wholly welcome if somewhat belated. Britain's debate has been conduced for far too long on terms set by the Euroskeptics -- terms which see the Union as a wicked foreign conspiracy to do the nation down.

By forcefully asserting the fundamental national interests -- political and economic -- which bind Britain to its continental European partners, Blair is stepping out of the shadow of his previous timidity. The prime minister's further acknowledgment that there are areas in which both Britain and Europe can benefit from closer integration is similarly refreshing. Too many British prime ministers have failed to understand that integration is a continuing process rather than a random series of isolated events.

-- The Financial Times, London