Strength in diversity

From Irian Jaya, or West Papua as its inhabitants call it, to Aceh, the challenges to Indonesia's unity have never been so grave as at present. Increasingly powerful separatist struggles are tearing at the five-decade-long attempt by Jakarta to create a unified nation out of the diverse peoples of the former Dutch East Indies.

At the root of Indonesia's problems lies the resentment minorities feel about the political and economic influence of the Javanese. During the 32-year rule of former president Soeharto, military power and the fruits of a growing economy helped to mute the discontent in far-flung provinces. But East Timor's successful bid for independence and the political uncertainty in national politics have given a new lease of life to separatist movements across the archipelago. It has also stoked ugly ethno- nationalist clashes in the Malukus and west Kalimantan.

President Abdurrahman Wahid, who in the midst of these troubles has found time to tilt at a windmill in criticizing Singapore, seems to have no coherent policy responses to the forces pulling his nation apart. After first making a conciliatory gesture to the West Papuans by apologizing to them for human rights abuses by the armed forces, he has gone on to use those forces to quell demonstrations of separatism, leaving a simmering resentment.

The Indonesian President has also proposed autonomy for the country's restive outlying provinces. But this appears to be too little, too late. What is clearly needed is to demonstrate to the outlying areas the economic benefits of remaining part of a larger whole. Both West Papua and Aceh are rich in resources such as copper and natural gas. But neither province has benefited to the extent it ought to have from these riches. A far greater proportion of the revenues from this natural wealth should be ploughed into developing these provinces.

Besides greater resource sharing, serious thought needs to be given to evolving a wider Indonesian identity which will encompass the diversity of the world's fourth-largest nation. The idea of a unified, homogeneous nation, speaking one common language was the basis for the Indonesian movement for independence led by the country's founding father, Sukarno. But if the country is to survive as a single entity, it will need to build a looser political structure which will draw strength from Indonesia's diversity, rather than attempting to crush it.

-- South China Morning Post, Hong Kong