Growth and democracy can go hand-in-hand

A recent report from the World Bank describes India and Pakistan -- together with Indonesia and seven other countries, including China -- as emerging global economic giants.

This heartening report, however, does not improve the South Asian region's previous reputation of being constantly beset by economic problems.

Even while democratic practices are flourishing, a United Nations report ranks South Asia as the poorest and the most illiterate region in the world. "South Asia" was defined as the area including Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and the Maldives.

We are disinclined to go into the argument over which must come first: democracy or growth and a fair distribution of wealth, because an illustration is available to show that both can go hand-in-hand: the Philippines.

We would like to see the South Asian case history not leading other countries to draw the wrong conclusion -- that the practice of democracy will only lead to retrogressive and backward practices.

We prefer to take the view that both can be attained simultaneously, and that the drive to secure growth is not used as an excuse for not practicing democracy.

-- Kompas, Jakarta