Govt warned against 'social revolution'

Govt warned against 'social revolution'

The Jakarta Post
Jakarta

Chairman of the Alliance for New Indonesia (PIB) Sjahrir warned
on Monday of possible "social revolution" if the government
failed to immediately address various economic and political
problems gripping the country.

PIB is a grouping of noted economists and political analysts.

Sjahrir said that so far the government had no clear formula
for resolving the multi-dimensional problems.

"Should this continue, I predict Indonesia will be headed
toward another social revolution," Sjahrir said in his closing
speech at a PIB-initiated discussion gathering on Monday.

He stated that the government's decision to extend the
repayment period for debts owed by former bank owners to the
government was but one example of its poor policies.

He also said that a further delay in the fuel price hike plan
was a reflection of the government's lack of comprehensive
approach to handling the current problems.

The government previously reported it would increase fuel
prices on Jan. 1, in line with its commitment to reduce fuel
subsidies and, at the same time, ease pressure on the state
budget.

Up to now, however, the government had yet to put its decision
into effect for reasons that remained unclear, a situation,
Sjahrir said, that had given the fuel black market more
opportunity to flourish.

But, Sjahrir believed the fuel black market only reflected a
small part of the real problems the country was facing, both on
the economic and political fronts.

"Aside from the fuel black market, other black markets also
are also present at Indonesia, such as the black market of
justice and the black market of power politics," he said.

By the black market of justice he meant distortions in the
sense of justice for the public. The public sense of justice had
long been left out in the making of some, if not all, policies,
he added.

"Look at all the fuss about the extension of the debt
settlement program, there is no justice in it.

"While, at the same time, the taxpayers have to eventually
bear the brunt of the debt interest payments, those companies
under the deal are being freed from paying taxes and interest on
their debts."

The black market of power politics included all the political
tugs-of-war within the government to protect its own interests,
without calculating all the consequences.