Possibility of disintegration

Possibility of disintegration

It would appear, quite ominously, that history could well
repeat itself in Indonesia.

Although decentralization, devolution and autonomy may enhance
the cause of democracy in many other countries, in Indonesia it
may do quite the opposite.

While calls for independence in Aceh, Riau and West Papua and
for unification in Sulewesi, in some cases, may be genuine and
express the wish of the majority, in others they may be simply
expressing the wishes of a covetous and exploitative elite.

It appears that there are some regents and military factions
who are determined to gain financially by conspiring to exploit
the motion towards fragmentation in the country.

Without the knowledge and approval of the central government,
deals are already in the process of being struck between
Indonesian and foreign companies on the one hand and regents and
certain military factions on the other. In this way, alternative,
unelected administrations, albeit provincial ones, are
haphazardly emerging to fill the vacuum left by a rather weak and
irresolute, central government.

A similar process occurred in Indonesia in the 1960s when
several large American companies reached agreements and entered
into contracts with Soeharto's cronies and the military faction.
This ultimately led to the CIA backed coup of 1965 and rule by a
despotic regime for three decades thereafter.

This time the CIA is probably not involved and the outcome is
unlikely to be a unified Indonesia under a military government;
instead Indonesia could very possibly fragment under a whole
variety of avaricious despots.

To prevent this the government must firmly and before it is
too late, take steps to prohibit involvement by the military in
any business activities, ensure the loyalty of the entire
military to the central administration, carefully plan any
devolution so that power devolves to democratically elected
provincial assemblies and declare illegal and void all ultra
vires contracts made between officials and businesses.

FRANK RICHARDSON

Jakarta