Disintegration at our doorstep

At present, as economic ruin and disintegration are threatening the nation, we must maintain the courage to reject things that are deleterious to our national interest, however hard the possible consequences may be. President Abdurrahman Wahid's remark that he will be willing to talk to anyone who is ready to talk, but will be tough with anyone who wants to unilaterally impose their will on others, is appropriate in this context. In times such as these, leaders are expected to possess both intellectual prowess and firmness of resolution.

The threat of disintegration is waiting at our doorstep. This threat originates mainly from provinces that are endowed with adequate reserves of natural resources and are therefore capable of paying for their own needs. This kind of thinking, however, has been long since abandoned. Many countries at present prefer to promote the quality of their human resources rather than rely on their natural resources. Hopefully, the elites in our restive provinces are truly aware of all the implications of their demands.

-- Bisnis Indonesia, Jakarta