People's fate

People's fate

From Merdeka

As a senior citizen, I was prompted to write this letter after
reading reports in Merdeka regarding the IMF orienting (us) on
liberalization, the arrest of members of the Democratic People
Party in an apartment and a letter to the editor written by
Michael De Rozari on social concern.

In fact, liberalization had its onset three decades ago, when
Indonesia turned from "national and character building" to
"economic building"; an undertaking now resulting in the monetary
crisis, which has also begun to degenerate into "national
multi-crises" now hitting our beloved state and people.

In 1957, the U.S.-based Institute of Fiscal and Political
Education published a book entitled Democracy versus Communism
with a view to reeducating the American people, making them
critical and providing them with academically studied comparative
materials.

In this way, the American people take pride in being the
adherents of democracy and in their patterns of thoughts, methods
and systems in the management of their state. They also do not
fear communism, which also exists in the United States. This has
reminded me of the teachings of our President about the
"superiority" of Pancasila over other "isms". Of course, this is
intended to make the Indonesian people have no fear of or be
immune to other established "isms".

I have also been reminded of the teachings of martial arts
teachers regarding the principle of martial arts: "If we wish to
beat or be superior to our opponent, it is absolutely necessary
for us to have a perfect knowledge of our opponent's principle
and techniques."

A Western diplomat once told me at a reception something which
I will never forget: "If there is anyone who knows all the dirty
tricks of the West, your president Sukarno is the man."

I have never read a newspaper article on "social concern"
regarding public transportation drivers to the effect that for
the sake of feeding their families, these drivers have to
sacrifice their happiness in life, which has been robbed of them
by their partners, the owners of the vehicles they operate.

In Jakarta alone there are hundreds, if not hundreds of
thousands of taxi drivers and other drivers of public
transportation vehicles who operate taxis and other public
transportation vehicles on an income-sharing basis. They usually
start from home at 5 a.m. and do not return home until 11 p.m. or
even midnight.

Just imagine their plight. They have to leave home when their
wives and children are perhaps still asleep and they return home
very late in a tired and weak condition. Most probably, their
wives and children are already in bed when they get home.
Unfortunately, they do not have representatives in the Jakarta
administration to pay attention to their fate.

IPHONSUS P. LOLONG

Jakarta