Vacations: A moral tale

To an untutored vacationer on leave from an industrialized country such as Europe, Japan or America who passes through Jakarta during Ramadhan, the mass exodus from the capital, which he witnesses through TV or other media, does not raise his curiosity too much. That is, until he is informed by a friend that the festive week, including Lebaran proper, is really an extraordinary holiday, a kind of collective paid leave, government approved.

"You mean, this comes on top of the usual, once-a-year holidays?"

"Yes it does; Lebaran proper lasts only two days."

"So, what about Christmas and New Year?" he asks.

"Well, officially it's not sanctioned, but absenteeism between both holidays is also common."

"And this phenomenon has happened for the past two to three decades, especially now that more people can afford a car to make the arduous journey to the countryside? That's terrific! Surely, Indonesians must have been exceptionally productive to earn this kind of vacation!" he exclaims.

"Not exactly; the country received billions of dollars of development aid over the same period."

Now his curiosity turns to incredulity. He muses on how work discipline back home forces him to work those strenuous, 8-hour days, five days a week for 11 months of the year and that this one-month vacation does not actually compensate for the year- long, strength-sapping work at his office.

All of it was intended to increase his country's economic growth and competitiveness, so he was told.

Observing many undernourished children in the villages he passes on his trip to Yogjakarta, he asks how an obviously poor country can afford such luxuries without going bankrupt.

"But this is really a rich country, overflowing with minerals and other natural resources," his partner explains, "only, most of the generated wealth has somehow or other evaporated, leaving a small portion only for the welfare of these poor villages we've just passed. The villagers can, luckily, survive on a diet that will not, however, create strong people. And, of course, there's that cartel of donor countries, without whose aid the poor villagers would become more destitute. Really, those cartel governments are wonderful philanthropists!"

D. RATULANGI Bandung