The national chili crisis

The national chili crisis

Indonesia, known as the Spice Islands from the dawn of
civilization, is facing an unprecedented crisis: a shortage of
red chilies.

The soaring prices of red chilies is causing great
consternation among the public which never dreamed a shortage of
that commodity possible.

Although a shortage may seem to be an inconsequential matter
when observed from a distance, households across the nation are
feeling the pinch because red chilies are an essential element of
the nation's cuisine. This shortage has reminded us that to the
vast majority of Indonesians, chilies are as vital as
electricity, whose true significance is only felt when there is a
power blackout.

For outsiders, the idea that a shortage of red chilies could
cause a crisis at all may seem a bit outrageous. However, it must
be remembered that chilies have been a central part of the diet
of the people of this archipelago for centuries. No dish in this
country, where more than 100 ethnic groups live, is considered
palatable without the spicy presence of red chilies.

It is no wonder that a shortage of this agricultural product
has sparked consternation nationwide, especially among
housewives. And because the shortage has emerged and pushed up
prices during the fasting month being observed by the some 170
million Moslems living in Indonesia, its import is immense.

The situation has been exacerbated by the fact that no
government agency has come forward to shed any light on why such
a surprising turn of events could have come about. And the people
are at a loss as where to register their complaints about the
rocketing price of this important commodity.

The National Logistics Agency (Bulog) has simply moved to try
to see that an adequate amount of red chilies reach Jakarta's
markets. This move, however, does not help much because in many
minds it constitutes reaction rather than curative action. It has
also left many people asking:"Is the situation such that Bulog,
whose responsibility is to stabilize rice and flour prices, now
has to expand its duties to include chilies?"

News reports that the government will soon import chilies have
added to the public's confusion and concern. To most Indonesians
this sounds more unbelievable than any of the other imports to
date.

Clearly, an explanation is urgently needed to clarify why
chilies have become so scarce and what in our system has caused
this to happen.

To add to the seriousness of the situation, reports say that
the shortage of chilies is not the only one facing the nation.
Fertilizer is also hard to find today and beer, a basic commodity
for the resort island of Bali, has also mysteriously disappeared.

In facing such situations, the people have a habit of
addressing their questions to God Almighty. In their hearts they
are asking whether these exceptional shortages are related to the
other major crises which have befallen this nation of late? For
example, the earthquake in Central Sulawesi early this month
which killed eight people, the devastating floods in Jakarta and
Aceh, which claimed a total of 20 lives, and the most recent
tragedy, the ferry accident in Aceh in which only 40 out of 210
passengers survived.

And people with a greater degree of political consciousness
have taken an even wider view in their concern over the recent
anomalies facing this nation. This view encompasses the internal
bickerings of Nahdlatul Ulama, the country's largest Moslem
social organization, not to mention the kidnapping of innocent
people by members of the OPM separatist gang in the jungles of
Irian Jaya.

It is, therefore, not surprising to hear Moslem scholars
saying that the recent tragedies and anomalies should serve as
warnings. Nor is it surprising to find the public taking a
similar view that the situation warrants a second look at the way
things are being done in this nation.

Clearly, the shortage of chilies and the sociological and
psychological responses it has drawn from the public requires
swift attention. But, although a solution must be found as soon
as possible, a careful evaluation of the causes of the chili
crisis should be done before any decision is made to import this
commodity from abroad.