Indonesia to struggle through Year of the Rat
Indonesia to struggle through Year of the Rat
JAKARTA (JP): A local Chinese astrologer forecasts darkness
for Indonesia during the Year of the Rat in 1996.
"The Rat symbolizes winter and darkness. The Rat is an animal
that always lives in the dark," said Asminur Soffian Uddin.
According to Chinese astrology, darkness is a symbol of death.
In the Year of the Rat, therefore, Indonesia will likely undergo
upheaval.
"Various disasters, like the flooding of several cities, the
sinking of several ships and the many accidents which occurred in
January l996, the end of the Year of the Pig, were warnings,"
Uddin pointed out.
"We must look back at what we have done because
all these calamities result from a prolonged action-reaction
process," the former lecturer of Sinology at the University of
Indonesia said.
The current flooding in Jakarta, for instance, is the result
of botched development projects, he said.
"We could have avoided the flood if we had adhered to proper
city planning," he said.
He suggests that all members of society, including
policymakers, remain alert in the coming year.
He warned that tragic events usually take place in the fifth
(go gwee) and eleventh (cap it gwee) months of the Year of the
Rat.
"The tragic events can be natural or manmade," he said. He
also foresees that a prominent figure in Indonesia will suffer a
serious illness.
"It may affect the country's political condition," said Uddin.
He refused to elaborate.
Many astrologers predicted that there would be many political
conflicts in the Year of the Pig, which began on January 21,
l995, and will end February 19, l996. Judging from the condition
of the Indonesian Democratic Party and the Nahdlathul Ulama
Moslem organization, the prediction came true, said Uddin.
Uddin said many variables factor into predictions, some are
unknown.
"The X-factors are God's power. He has the power to create
anything. We can only learn a very small part of His knowledge
while forecasting the future, but everything depends on God," he
said.
The Year of the Rat symbolizes winter because rats are
diligent and hard-working animals. Rats work hard to stockpile
necessities for bad years.
The analog urges people to stay alert to possible dangers and
work hard to prepare for an uncertain future.
Despite his gloomy social and political prediction, Uddin sees
good prospects for Indonesia's economy.
Many businesses will enjoy a boom. But both the government and
businesspeople must be ready to face keen competition in the
global market, he said.
The price of several commodities will likely increase, he
said, citing the increase in the price of liquid gas last month
as an example. It is estimated that several other commodities,
including oil, will soon become more expensive.
"If the government increases the oil price, social unrest will
likely occur," he warned.
Although his Year of the Rat forecast is not very promising,
it can still be a year of hope and opportunity for those who work
hard.
Uddin warned that people, particularly politicians and
businesspeople born under the Rat, Horse, Rabbit and Rooster
signs, should be cautious during the Year of the Rat.
Indonesia gained independence on Aug. 17, l945 which was the
Year of the Rooster.
"As a Rooster, Indonesia may also have difficult in the Year
of the Rat," Uddin warned. (raw)