Indonesia in 2001
JAKARTA (JP): The multidimensional crisis that has plagued Indonesia for four years has yet to show any concrete signs of abating. If anything, it looks as though it is set to become more serious in many sectors in the coming months.
With the new year, the regional autonomy law comes into effect, and many fear it will only add to the turmoil besetting the nation.
The most asked question today is where is the country going?
As 2000 draws to a close, it is a good time to reflect on what has been happening to this vast country, in the past, present and an increasingly unclear future.
What factors have brought it to its sorry condition today.
Below and in the following pages is a series of articles, written or excerpted from interviews with local and foreign experts.
We have drawn views and opinions from a cross-section of experts, with backgrounds in politics, economics, social affairs, history, the law and military.
Under the Indonesia 2001 banner, we present their stimulating ideas in a total of nine pages. The following seven pages are dedicated to regional autonomy.
Our hope is that their insightful views will help us all gain a better understanding about ourselves, our problems and the challenges which lie ahead. Needless to say, we need a beacon of hope amid the dark of Indonesia's terrible crisis.
The experts take an in-depth view of Indonesia's multifaceted problems. They explore myriad issues, including justice, human rights, good governance, democracy, the role of the military and women's rights.
Special emphasis has been given to the issue of leadership, a perennial problem since independence.
The future of the nation concerns all of us. Rising disillusion of the people toward President Abdurrahman Wahid in recent months has pushed us to pursue the issue.
Although most of the observers describe a bleak or uncertain future for Indonesia, a tone of optimism can still be found.
Indonesia is here to stay, says one observer, yet there are a lot of "buts" for the leaders and the people to deal with. They are hard to resolve, ingrained by decades of perverted practices, such as the sorry state of legal affairs.
There is no disputing that numerous changes and challenges lie ahead, not only next year but for many years to come.
It is our sincere hope that the views presented in this special edition will go some way toward explaining the state of our country, and what we must do to put it right. (hbk)