Don't give up on Indonesia

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