Do not stop with dollars

Do not stop with dollars

From Neraca

The "Love rupiah" campaign has become a trend setter. Within
one week after Mrs. Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana exchanged dollars for
rupiah, government officials, business tycoons and the rich in
general have gone to the banks to follow suit.

As if by silent invitation to other dollar owners to do the
same, they seem to show off when holding their "I love rupiah"
stickers in front of cameras. The question is, are they serious?
Is it a subterfuge? After more people have exchanged their
dollars, will they hunt for dollars again? Why have they started
this campaign only now after conditions have turned so critical?

If we say we love the rupiah, we should also do anything to
make the currency strong again. If there are signs of the rupiah
losing ground to other currencies, we should try to strengthen
it.

The current concern for the rupiah by dollar owners more or
less reflects their love for the rupiah, though it is rather
late. They should have taken action when there were signs of the
rupiah "losing the battle" so that the defeat would not be as
total as it is now.

If we really love the rupiah, we should not stop at exchanging
our dollars. Efforts shown by people in South Korea and Thailand,
such as surrendering their gold and jewels to the state, should
be imitated here because they have proven effective.

KRISTI

Jakarta