U.S. embargo on Indonesia?

U.S. embargo on Indonesia?

One of our experts has defined the term "embargo" as temporary
confiscation of foreign vessels, for example, at war time, in
order to ensure that they do not leave the port. Another meaning
of the word is a prohibition banning the movement of goods
between countries. An example of how the word is used in the
press is as follows: "Foreign Minister Alwi Shihab confident the
U.S. will not slap embargo on Indonesia."

Take the U.S. embargo on Iraq, for example. Although this
country is considered as having violated human rights with its
invasion of Kuwait, in terms of humanity, the U.S. may be
considered as having violated the human rights of the innocent
Iraqi people (the majority of the population). Perhaps the U.S.
has never felt that was the case because in the post-cold-war era
the U.S. considers itself the unrivaled world police. Whatever it
says seems to be a one-sided justification.

Will Indonesia go the Iraqi way? Only time will tell. What is
most important is that, if it is true that a U.S. embargo will be
slapped on Indonesia, the U.S., on the one hand, consciously or
otherwise, is alienating itself from the spirit of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights and the Declaration on the Granting
of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples.

On the other hand, Indonesia's middle-class will no longer
taste delicious American style fried chicken.

In addition, Marlboro cigarettes and the like will disappear,
as also will films dwelling on carnal desires typical of Uncle
Sam's Hollywood productions. Then, civil and military aircraft
will have to be made into scrap iron as the spare parts cannot be
imported. And a host of other problems will ensue.

Fortunately, most Indonesians are used to living in poverty.
They can endure difficulties much better than the middle-to-upper
class people. So, the positive side of this embargo threat is
that the entire nation must work extra hard to ensure that they
are not dependent on the mercy of other nations.
May this come true.

SUNGKONO SOKAWERA

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