Christmas in a time of crisis

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

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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

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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