Indonesia in 2001
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)