High tech or human resources?
Natural resources are not inexhaustible; oil wells and natural gas reserves will run dry and coal mines will be depleted.
Every developing country wants to industrialize and export manufactured goods with maximum added value, to be able to pay for its imports. That is fine. The desire to catch up with the West is natural and understandable.
Japan, under Meiji at the turn of the century, achieved this very successfully. Students were sent in droves to Europe and America with the task of studying every vocation and profession imaginable in those days. All of the latest technology was imported, but as much money was invested on human resources as on technology.
The result was they converted their country from an ancient feudal society to a modern world power in a mere 40 years, while European industrialization had taken a century and a half. They changed from a country of rice paddies to a modern military and economic power which was able to stand up to the West.
Fukosawa was the main architect of Meiji restoration, who was later to become Japan's national hero. He was one of those young Samurai Bureaucrats who were sent overseas to study the West inside out -- and not just by visiting Shopping Malls, Shopping Centers and Supermarkets. He was to Japan like Gajahmada was to Majapahit or Werkudara was to Negara Amerta.
What I observe happening in Indonesia: 1. Education is treated like a stepchild. Less than one percent of the national budget is spent on education. The result is that students are taking to the streets in frustration. 2. Prof. Habibie pouring people's money into his Aerospace Industry. I do not think Liem Sioe Liong would put his money in it. He is too smart for that. 3. Transformation is haphazard. What's even worse, in the economic sense, is "leapfrogging."
For a country to become industrialized is not a matter of hiring expertise and importing technology. A country must also be willing to invest in human resource development to back up the industry.
In Indonesia there is a huge vacuum of vocational workers. Industry needs qualified vocational people such bricklayers, fitters, plumbers, welders, plasterers, electricians, automotive mechanics and tradesmen of hundreds of other vocations. Industry needs thousands of these people and at the moment Indonesia has hardly any.
The country needs to spend lots and lots of money in education for sustainable foundation of industrialization. Of course it also needs engineers and scientists at the top echelon.
Industrialization is one thing and "leapfrogging" into a high tech country where there are millions of idle human resources is another. Industrialization for Indonesia is a natural progression. But "leapfrogging" into high tech country is a misguided ambition.
For a country which is so far into debt, spending US$5 billion on prestigious projects cannot be justified. In any case the high tech industries have no economic justification.
Indonesia is building a pyramid upside down, with the square side at the top. It won't stand by itself for long without continued financial support from the poor people of Indonesia.
SUBAGIO
Unley Park S.A. 5061
Australia
The discussion of Zionist issues
It is very interesting to read Rahayu Ratnaningsih's and Masli Arman's opinions on the Zionist issues. It amazed me how two people with obviously two different levels of knowledge on the matters discussed could argue on things.
But really, I don't think Rahayu Ratnaningsih should be too defensive in reacting to Arman's view; not to mention how she began to question the Moslems in general by saying such thing as: "Where were Moslems when tourists were injured and killed in Egypt?"
I don't think Masli Arman was talking about the quality of the followers of any particular faith. He emphasized more the effect of the political action schemed by a small number of internationally organized elite groups.
I believe every human being, regardless their sex, race and faith, has the right to justice. And I believe everyone of us shares the same dream of a better world. It's not a question of black and white, nor of being violent or peaceful, but it's more a question of being honest to our own consciences, in looking at and measuring the things happening around us.
A. KERMAPUTRA
Jakarta
Dead men tell no tales
Is it so? However, this story concerns a dead man who revealed his own sin when he was still alive.
Mr and Mrs A have always live in perfect harmony and they have always been made an example of the most perfect couple in the church.
When the husband died, there was no sadder woman on this earth than Mrs A. When she went to the funeral with her grown-up daughter, she saw a younger woman accompanied by a cute child, whose grief over the dead man was not less than her own, and perhaps even more profound. She sobbed incessantly and she clung to the coffin spasmodically, so much so that it drew the special attention of the grieving widow, Mrs A. When Mrs A accosted the young woman and sympathetically asked her whether she was a relative of her husband she did not know, she was shocked to hear the young woman's confession that she was married to the deceased.
Mrs A's grief made way for an indescribable hatred as she was always under the illusion that her husband had been a perfect spouse. She could not forgive what her husband had done to her. She sulked and sulked to the point of undermining her health.
One day she joined a marriage counseling meeting, where a priest advised her to forgive her deceased husband in her prayers, otherwise she could find no solace in her soul and that is the only way to have peace of mind.
A. DJUANA
Jakarta
Roads need repairing
As an ex-pat resident of Suralaya I would like your help in calling attention to the deplorable road we have to travel through Florida, Merak, Cilegon, etc., to get to Jakarta for our everyday needs. This road is very muddy and full of pot holes and after a rain it is very difficult (practically impossible) to determine the depth of the holes thereby causing damage to our automobiles. Since this is the only road out of Suralaya it would seem that if the proper authorities were aware of the situation it would be corrected.
I would also like to inquire about the validity of the road fees for entering the Carita area while sightseeing. This will probably discourage many ex-pats from visiting one of your most beautiful resorts.
HILDA P. KOCHER
Suralaya, West Java
Brutal behavior
From Kompas
The unstable situation prevailing in Indonesia has caused great concern to us. It seems to be going from bad to worse. An incident like the one experienced by Ibu Daniyardi Dani in Bakasi, West Java, (Kompas, April 24, 1994) is a typical act of brutality. A group of youngsters in white-and-grey uniforms treated Ibu Dani brutally while traveling on a city bus. Imagine our consternation when we, anthropologists, compare the behavior of those youngsters with that of isolated tribes living in Indonesian forest.
Ibu Dani who knows the way of life of an isolated tribe told us that the tribesmen live according to the values of Pancasila, practise mutual help, have great respect for each other, act politely and do other good things which are quite contradictory to the behavior of the youth of the capital city.
AMRI MARZALI
Depok, West Java