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)