Let the people decide

Let the people decide

I have read a report in The Jakarta Post of Oct. 19, 1998 on
the demonstration staged by workers of PT Indorayon at the office
of the North Sumatra governor and now wish to write the
following:

Until now the solution to various problems arising between the
local people and PT Indorayon in Porsea has never been based on
the people's wishes. In other words, the voice of the people has
never been used as the main frame of reference in making
decisions that concern the people's interests. This condition has
prevailed for years with the result that substantial losses have
been inflicted on both sides and that the people's
dissatisfaction and resentment has but mounted. In the meantime,
the root cause of all the problems remains.

This condition can be interpreted in two ways: (a) PT
Indorayon has, indeed, never bothered with the people's interests
or (b) "prompted by a certain factor", PT Indorayon has been
compelled to ignore the people's voice/interests.

In my opinion, the wisest thing to do now, instead of making
mutual accusations, is to make all interested parties (the
people, the company and the government) realize that they should
earnestly allow the people to speak about their rights and
interests.

This means that the people must be encouraged, without being
restricted and intimidated, to determine their own
representatives for a negotiation with all parties, particularly
PT Inti Indorayon Utama.

If all parties that have until now always "claimed" to be
parties with the greatest stake in this matter allow the people
to determine who will represent them in voicing their interests,
whatever will later be decided by the people must be final in
nature and must be honored by all parties.

In the context of PT Indorayon-related problems, we, in the
present era of reform, must have confidence that the people, with
their existential experiences, are capable of determining what
they really need. Just a slight indication of any fabrication
contradicting popular wishes will only make this problem more
complicated and more protracted.

May the final solution to this problem benefit the people.

DR. SABAM JMT SIMATUPANG

Observer of Indorayon issues

Samosir, North Sumatra