Economic and political crisis

Economic and political crisis

From Kompas

With each passing day, the economic difficulties that the
Indonesian people have to deal with are getting bigger and
bigger. In our social life, there is a bigger threat to security,
thus causing restlessness among community members. As these two
issues are getting more and more serious, politicians and
political observers are indulging themselves deeper and deeper in
debates on the mistakes committed by the old leaders, the present
leaders and also on how this country pursues its politics.

Will the heated political debates ever end the deepening
economic crisis? If in this reform era one political party
finally rules the country, is it any guarantee at all that we
shall get out of this crisis immediately? If we successfully
investigate the assets of the Soeharto family, is there any
guarantee that we can get rid of our economic problems?

In fact, the root cause is the pinch of the economic crisis.
As an observer bent on practical thinking, I bet that we may lead
a good life if our economic condition were not in turmoil. If the
economic condition is restored speedily, our political condition
and security will be back to normal. I think it is the economic
condition that can determine the political situation, not the
other way around. Efforts for economic recovery and restoration
must be prioritized. All Indonesian leaders today must be given a
chance to think calmly about how to bring about economic recovery
and restoration.

RENDRA HERTIADHI

Jakarta