We are being warned

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