IMF and Rizal Ramli

I read with interest Rizal Ramli's response Editorial on IMF (July 19, 2001) to The Jakarta Post's editorial IMF's ominous message (July 17, 2001) and can understand his obvious indignation. Let's face it, he is the man most responsible for the economy and is therefore the person right in the firing line when it comes to any high-level meetings with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) representatives.

None of us enjoy failure, or for that matter the finger of blame pointed directly at one's feet, but then if you are "the man" then you must accept the criticism. I doubt if there is an Indonesian anywhere in this country who does not think that the IMF left with a feeling of uncertainty as lack of confidence in the whole political arena is street talk and general knowledge.

The Post article was not at all damning, in fact after reading it I thought "tell us something new". This news is well-known and the sad story has been written many times over the past six months or so. I am not sure why Rizal Ramli categorized the readers of the Post as "unsuspecting public" as most subscribers I know draw on their own intelligence to come up with their own assessment of anything they read. Sure the article was critical and quite rightly so as we all live in Indonesia under a cloud of uncertainty, which is a direct product of this administration and the House of Representatives (DPR) in general. No one here has any great confidence in anything that is happening, likely to happen or for that matter already happened, as just around the corner another major disaster is about to destroy whatever good that has been achieved.

The fact that many IMF board members are busy packing their shorts and fishing rods for their August vacation is really besides the point, as this lack of confidence has been around since this administration took office.

There are indeed good reasons for the many failures, most of which never truly reached the surface. When you look at the corruption and mudslinging associated with the financial scandals related to Bank Bali, Bulog, state enterprises, the bank restructuring and everything else that has gone unpunished or swept under the carpet, then no wonder everyone is laughing at the developments and the people involved. It has reached a stage far beyond being pathetical, and Rizal Ramli is but one of the unfortunate human beings locked in the fiasco of an abysmal administration.

What does Rizal Ramli really expect when the public witnesses day after day the disgraces of the so-called elite in this country, who without thought or care for the masses, go their own sweet and merry way to ensuring they get the biggest slice of the cake.

Sensible agreement can never be reached in this country as somewhere down the line, someone powerful has a vested interest in something, so progress for the good of the country goes right out the window. Everybody knows this, and so its no wonder the IMF came to Indonesia but left their signing pen at home.

Despair, frustration, mistrust and lack of confidence is what are being generated in Jakarta. And the reality of the situation today is that the IMF will not part with its much needed cash to a country that is riddled with inefficiency, corruption and stagnation.

DAVID WALLIS

Medan, North Sumatra