The danger of disintegration

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