Indonesian priorities

While there are the twin bonding blocks of Islam and the Indonesian language, there is much that could tear Indonesia apart. In times of economic development and growth, such conflicts rarely broke out into open hostility, and when they did they were relatively easily contained. No one really wanted to risk growth by burning down shops or factories or otherwise seeming to threaten the burgeoning prosperity.

Now, of course, the situation is very different. Vast numbers of Indonesians face desperate, wracking poverty, and they are both angry and desperate. Not surprisingly, they look to someone to blame, someone to injure in retaliation.

Much is being made of the alleged role of agents provocateurs in the recent outbreaks of violence, with many and varied conspiracy theories being thrown around.

Probably, the truth will never be known, but certainly the preconditions were all there for a spontaneous blaze. It may have been deliberately lit, but the flames did not need a match to take hold.

What is clear is that while increasing democracy is vital to peace in Indonesia, this is an enormous undertaking in a state where democratic institutions and organizations were kept in almost fetal form by the Soeharto dictatorship.

More directly, Indonesians need hope, hope in particular on the economic front, that at least they will have enough food to eat tomorrow. To achieve that, existing distribution networks need to be maintained and fostered, not destroyed, and for that the government must protect the ethnic Chinese minority. Work must be put into developing agriculture right across the country for factory workers will have to return to farms.

The rest of the world needs to take a full role, otherwise Indonesia stands every chance of descending into a terrible downward spiral of violence.

Loans, and even better direct aid, must be offered with a minimum of preconditions, and full support provided to assist in dealing with the environmental disasters that have accompanied the economic.

Democracy certainly must be fostered, but filling hungry bellies must be the first priority. If such steps are not taken, the potential consequences, both in terms of human suffering and regional disruption, are truly immense.

-- The Bangkok Post