Loans and foreign control

Loans and foreign control

From Media Indonesia

Indonesia has become the focus of world attention following
the devastating earthquake and tsunami in Aceh. One of the
manifestations of sympathy is the debt moratorium approved by the
Paris Club.

Indonesia requested such a suspension from the club seven
times from 1996 to 2002. The debt rescheduling this time is
accompanied by soft loans for the reconstruction of Aceh and
North Sumatra.

Economic ministers are proud of the new loans obtained for the
state budget, totaling US$2.8 billion plus $0.7 billion for the
Aceh rehabilitation.

It is obvious that the aid provided is inseparable from the
national interests of donor (creditor) countries, with their
agendas that make poor nations like Indonesia dependent on debts.

The terms and conditions for such foreign loans may harm the
interests of not only Aceh but also Indonesia. It is not
impossible for them to control the reconstruction efforts
according to the agenda of secularization under the disguise of
democracy.

CITA ASIH LESTARI
Bandung