We are being warned

What is happening to this country? The multidimensional crisis has not ended, yet now we have been hit by disasters.

Within a week, flood in five provinces has inundated thousands of houses and thousands of hectares of rice fields and has forced thousands of people to evacuate. Hundreds of people have lost their homes because of fire while communal clashes in some provinces have compelled thousands to seek refuge.

Some of the disasters were clearly caused by human carelessness, uncontrolled illegal logging, and sand quarrying.

Others say these are warnings from "Someone up there". We are being warned for our failure to thank God for His graces and for our failure to manage the state and the government.

Since the crisis hit Indonesia in mid-1997, things have grown worse. Unemployment has increased, purchasing power has weakened, while foreign debts are mounting. Crime rate has increased and corruption pervades all levels -- top to bottom.

Sad to say, people have grown quite familiar with these disasters as they occur almost every day -- disasters that have caused thousands of people to lose their homes and their future. These people have begun fasting even before Ramadhan.

Jihad, of course, should not only be launched for the Afghan people who are facing U.S. military strikes. It is also necessary to help our own suffering people.

-- Republika, Jakarta