IMF's role

Is it fair if I compare the current economic crisis to the latest movie Titanic? The music was still playing while the ship was sinking. Why are we still arguing while we actually know that we're running out of time? It seems that there's nothing much we can do but carry out the package deal assigned by the IMF.

Why has it taken so long for the IMF to disburse the promised aid? Are they playing games with us or is it because they know that we haven't fulfilled our part of the bargaining struck with them? Let's prove to them that we're more than serious about it and make them understand that we could not possibly be playing games with the fate of millions of people at stake.

Are we losing our national pride by committing ourselves to what we have promised to do? Of course not! Instead, we are showing the world that we are a responsible and sensible nation that is willing to make sacrifices to save our nation from the economic chaos, a nation that is consistent in what it says and what it does. Our steps reflect our dignity.

Many prominent intellectuals, including the former finance minister Frans Seda and the economist Emil Salim, think that the IMF is the only key to rescue us from the economic troubles because there's no one able to drop such a large amount of funding needed by us to restore our economy situation back into order.

I was alarmed when I read in the newspaper that the United States might block the next handout and the IMF might delay the rescue. That would instantly cause the rupiah to plunge in value. If that happens the situation can't possibly get any better.

People have been crying out for help and longing for the results and improvements to be realized. I keep the country and its people in my prayers. Allow me to make a call, however, to both Indonesia and the IMF, that they join hands to make things work out or else they would fail and we would all lose.

JENNY LAURITZ KHOENG

Jakarta