Demands for change should be heard

During the dialog that took place this week between World Bank president James D. Wolfensohn and a number of prominent Indonesian personalities, one topic stood out. Indonesian professionals at the meeting expressed disappointment with the World Bank saying the institution seemed to close its eyes to many of the problems afflicting the countries it was assisting, including Indonesia. The World Bank, experts and observers at the meeting said, has shown a lack of concern for issues such as openness, human rights, government accountability and conservation and protection of the environment.

In focussing on the achievement of economic growth in the countries it was assisting, the Indonesian professionals said the World Bank was ignoring one other dimension of development -- the nurturing of political institutions including those that affect legislation, recognition of human rights, environmental protection and the establishment of democratic mechanisms and structures to ensure effective social controls.

Indeed, a development strategy that fails to take the people into account and allow them to actively participate in the process does have the potential of encouraging etatism, a situation in which everything is determined by the state. In such a condition, the people are mere objects and practically all their aspirations and demands are meaningless.

It is, therefore, understandable that in the present crisis -- and considering the spirit of the times and society -- there is now a growing demand for good governance, greater transparency, greater accountability and a greater consideration for the people's political and human rights and the environment. The time has perhaps come for us to pay greater attention to the wishes of the people so this nation may find a better life in the future.

-- Bisnis Indonesia, Jakarta