Soothsayers see gloom and hope in 1998
By Stevie Emilia and Endy M. Bayuni
With three days to go, most people are wondering what 1998 has in store for them. For Indonesia, 1997 will not go down as one of its best years. Some people have described it as a horrible year with the natural and man-made disasters that have struck this nation in the last 12 months. The economic crisis made the suffering complete; everyone, rich and poor, were affected. Will 1998 be better or worse? The Jakarta Post has asked several soothsayers and astrologers about their predictions. As a note of caution to readers, none of the soothsayers had predicted this year's economic crisis.
JAKARTA (JP): How long is it before the economy improves?
Most soothsayers agree that recovery will come, but they differ on when and how fast. One has predicted as early as February, but two of them have set May at best, depending on how the nation deals with the economic problem. One believes the situation will not improve at all.
They also disagree about the political situation in Indonesia, ranging from a stable and peaceful year, to one of chaos.
These paranormals and astrologers predict more disasters, with more earthquakes, floods, forest fires and plane crashes.
Ki Ageng Selo aka Ki Mahmud Jaya Kusumonegoro, a spiritual healer and consultant:
Next year is the Year of the Tiger. Most experts say the Wooden Tiger, but I think it will be a Firewood Tiger. Firewood is combustible.
Ferocious, selfish and savage -- the main characteristics of a tiger -- will characterize people's behavior. But at least a tiger never devours its own offspring. This doesn't apply to people, who are willing to kill their own babies through abortion.
Many events in 1998 will go beyond reason, difficult to rationalize. The distinction between good and evil will be blurred.
In the Javanese calendar, 1998 will be the year of Alip Seloso Pon, the first year in an eight-year cycle.
This calls for vigilance.
In this year, people will show their greed, vengeance, mischief, arrogance, and will deny the benevolence of God Almighty. There will be a degradation of moral values and ethics.
Nature will become unfriendly to people. There will be some explosive natural disasters. However, His benevolence ensures enough food and clothing for all.
The economy will go through an uncertain period. There is no reason to be pessimistic though. We just need to get through May.
The rupiah will continue to plunge, perhaps to as low as Rp 7,000 to the dollar, but it will recover quickly beginning in February. Its value could go as high as Rp 2,700 by April. This is because wealthy people will regain their sense of nationalism, and bring their money back from abroad.
There will be a sharp increase in prices because of an increase in fuel prices in April. The crisis will hurt the poor, and the unemployment line will grow longer.
The crime rate will increase because for many, "the stomach cannot wait".
Politics will be chaotic, but the meeting of the People's Consultative Assembly in March will proceed smoothly, thanks to the strong anticipation of the Armed Forces.
University students will take to the streets.
New political figures will rise, but some old faces will return to the scene. In the March cabinet reshuffle, at least 50 percent of the cabinet will return.
On next year's death list are some truly nationalistic politicians.
Big floods will strike Aceh, West Java, Jakarta, Central Java, South Sumatra, Central Kalimantan, Central Sulawesi in February and March.
There will be three volcanic eruptions, including Mt. Merapi in Central Java, one volcano in Maluku and one in East Nusa Tenggara. Casualties will be at a minimum.
Earthquakes with a magnitudes of more than 6.0 on the Richter scale will strike West Java, East Java, East Nusa Tenggara, Maluku and Southeast Sulawesi.
There will be more forest fires, but not as bad as in 1997. Central Kalimantan and South Sumatra will be the most prone.
There will be air crashes involving small planes in April, June, July, September, October and December. There will be five train wrecks in Java -- in March, May, September and October -- but will be few casualties.
Putri Wong Kam Fu alias Leoni Fatima, a soothsayer and astrologer:
1998 will not be as gloomy as some soothsayers make it out to be. It's the Year of the Tiger. A very bright star will come to our salvation.
Sure there will be disasters here and there, but the country will be able to sort its problems out and survive.
But never underestimate the situation -- 1998 will be a foreshadowing of worse things to come. Next year will be the time when everyone should prepare for a murky year in 1999. People should finish what they have started this year without any further delay.
The gloomiest months will be in January and October. The best month of the year will be June when the stars will shine brightly.
In business, only a few sectors, particularly the service industry, will do well next year. The property sector will not improve much, but it won't collapse either.
Politics will remain stable. Some unexpected things will happen, but nothing the government cannot control.
Anton Rudolph Nico, an astrologer:
Two strong currents are moving in opposite directions. As a result, the nation will float aimlessly, with no sense of direction.
We need to review, restructure and reform our system, we need a new strategy to face the challenges of the globalization era, to deal with the economic upheavals.
The monetary crisis could end by May, but only under certain conditions. It will require more openness, it must be a joint endeavor, it must be dealt with more seriously. People must show that they care, and they have to work under consensus.
Permadi Satrio Wiwoho, a paranormal:
1998 will be worse than this year.
It will be a year of calamity and karma. Those who sow the wind will reap the tempest.
Next year is the Year of the Tiger. Whoever rides a tiger will suffer the consequences. Those who have taken advantage of the current monetary crisis, for example, will suffer.
The brunt of the current crisis will be felt deeper next year. There will be an outbreak of violence because many people are losing their jobs. The crime rate will also increase.
The source of the problem goes back to the May general election. It should not have been held because it was in Suro, a sacred month on the Javanese calendar. You're not supposed to hold any kind of ceremony at all. A violation of the sacred month could lead to the loss of the soul, or a great deal of fortune.
There is a possibility of a change in the national leadership before, or after, the People's Consultative Assembly general session in March. But President Soeharto still holds the key.
If Soeharto steps down, he will be replaced by someone whose name ends with "no". It could possibly be Try Sutrisno.
There will be more natural disasters and riots in 1998.
Gendeng Pamungkas alias N.M.H. Irsan Massardi:
The biggest challenge facing the government in 1998 is regaining people's trust, which has waned because of its inability to deal with the economic crisis.
People won't listen to the government, and they will be reluctant to voice their aspirations in the open.
The increase in prices will trigger riots, first in cities in Java, and later spreading to other provinces.
President Soeharto's health will improve next year.
The economy will worsen and the rupiah will remain unstable.
The only thing that can save the economy is if those who are wealthy bring their money, which they have stashed abroad, back to Indonesia.
Three wealthy people will die. One, an indigenous businessman, will die of a stroke. The other two will be of Chinese descent. One will commit suicide and another will be shot dead.
Two ministerial officials will die, and two ministers will lose their jobs before March.
Two famous celebrities will die. The first, a man, will die in an accident, and the second, a woman, will die of a drug overdose.
Many young artists will get divorced because of infidelity, with the women fooling around with government officials and the men because they are gigolos.