Indonesian priorities

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