Popular Forum declaration

Popular Forum declaration

Foreign debts have dragged Indonesia into a prolonged multi-
dimensional crisis, leading Indonesians into the grip of poverty
and misery.

The main culprits in this crisis are debt-financed development
policies and projects funded by foreign countries. Debts have
systematically ruined traditional values, women and children, who
have had to make the biggest sacrifices to shoulder the decline
in welfare such as health, economy, etc.

Obviously, debts that both the government and private sector
owe are made not in the interest of wider society but for those
from the political and business elite. The programs dedicated to
eradicating poverty, which are financed by debt, are merely aimed
at the political interests of authorities. Poverty, therefore, is
reduced to a commodity. Eventually, funds aimed at assistance
have resulted in a lack of morale among bureaucrats and the
general public, destroying autonomy and solidarity among members
of society.

In spite of the contradiction to the public interest, foreign
debts have become subject to widespread corruption and collusion,
irregularities, which are well known by donor and creditor
countries. However, they allow such bad practices to continue
because they themselves benefit from the situation.

We hereby make the following statements:

1. Reject all corrupt debts and loans made without the agreement
and in contradiction to the public interest.

2. Turn down any assistance that utilize people and poverty as
commodities through a program of eradicating poverty and
improving the welfare of women that is financed by foreign debts.

3. Probe into and bring Soeharto and his cronies to justice as
well as confiscate their wealth.

4. Revoke all government policies, both central and regional,
which support foreign debt and capital.

A. ISWINARTO

Formulating Team

of Popular Forum Declaration

Anti-Debt Coalition

Jakarta