The danger of disintegration

Two major developments have taken place in Irian Jaya. First, students were shot, as in the mid-May Trisakti tragedy that led to the downfall of Soeharto, and second, there have been growing demands for self-rule.

Early warnings of the danger of national disintegration were given as soon as the reform tide started to challenge the prevailing official arrogance and the all too many prohibitions. Yet, no one imagined that the specter of disintegration would emerge in various provinces in this unitarian state.

This fear of disintegration is indeed well founded. The demands for reform have caused the government and the Armed Forces (ABRI) to feel nervous and be overly permissive toward anything carrying the banner of reform.

Amid all this we may well ask ourselves what powers are there at present that have the necessary commitment and power to safeguard the sovereignty of the unitarian Republic of Indonesia? Could it be ABRI? Or the government? Or the people?

We are now in a stage of national lethargy. Our nationalist sentiments are being tested. Our sense of belonging is being torn apart by differing political interests and by this brutal economic crisis.

To prevent this nation from disintegrating, unifying symbols are needed. We have our Pancasila national philosophy and the 1945 Constitution, but these alone are not enough. The support of a strong national leadership is necessary.

-- Media Indonesia, Jakarta