Don't give up on Indonesia

We are living through interesting times in Indonesia. It seems another chapter is turning in our history. For people who have closely followed developments here, it is likely to be an important period of change. Change there will be, there is little doubt about it. Most Indonesians only hope that reforms will occur with the least amount of discomfort and hardship for the population.

The founders of this republic were, by and large, social democrats. They were not communists, theocrats or represented any one ethnic group. The struggle for nationhood was on behalf of all the people of the Indonesian archipelago, and social justice was a clearly stated goal.

A foreign national recently asked me, "If there is violence, will foreigners be in physical danger from Indonesians?" I replied that hopefully there will be little violence, and added that if he had never done anything that hurt the people, Indonesians would not turn against him.

Some individuals, including Indonesian citizens, have given up on this country and are fleeing, or have transferred capital overseas, but the average Indonesian will not or cannot do so. Anyone who has any sense of loyalty and no sense of guilt toward the people has little reason to take such measures.

As for me, I will happily stay put and stick with the situation here, no matter what happens. I do not believe that this whole nation will "erupt in massive violence". There may be more scattered disturbances, but we are unlikely to descend into total chaos.

Besides, why go and live a happy life elsewhere? We have lived through difficult times before, and I believe that change is bound to come.

But it would be very foolish indeed if any Indonesians, in these times of economic hardship, rode around in, say, a blue Rolls-Royce when the people around them were suffering.

FARID BASKORO

Jakarta