Who is to blame?

We used to be known as a nation of coolies and the coolie of other nations. Today Indonesia is known as a nation of debtors which has debts with other nations.

In terms of the rupiah, Indonesia's loans total thousands of trillions or zillions and the amount will swell further with the loans extended by the IMF and other donor countries/institutions. On the other hand, the country's economic development has contracted by 10 percent, which means that the capacity to repay the loans has likewise weakened.

Indonesia has now become a very poor country. The fruits of development have simply vanished as a result of corrupt, collusive and nepotistic practices, which left the country vulnerable to a monetary crisis. If this condition persists, it is very likely that our people will become a nation of beggars, capable of only borrowing more and more money without knowing for certain when it can be repaid. The saying that Indonesia is a chain of diamonds on the equator is now history, and in its place there is a new saying that it is a row of gravel that any passerby can step on.

Now that the economy is in a very bad condition, who is to blame? The simplest answer would be that we all are. However, if we care to go deeper into the matter, we can work out who is really to blame and which social group assumes the greatest responsibility for the present economic tragedy. Common sense has it that these people must admit that the guilt is theirs and they should, therefore, apologize to the Indonesian people.

Illegally amassed funds now in their hands must be confiscated and used to put the economy right. At this juncture, all sectors must be made to economize. Advertisements conveying congratulations on the appointment of officials, unnecessary official trips, the appointment of members of the Supreme Advisory Council (DPA) and unproductive ministers and so forth must be stopped. In no way would this be vengeful, but simply a corrective act with a view to upholding justice to save the rapidly deteriorating image of the nation. Remember, there is little interest now in the rupiah, either at home or abroad.

The guilty parties, who are aware that the accusing finger is pointed at them, have hinted that they are ready to be investigated and would allow action to be taken against them if they are proven guilty. This is indeed the spirit of knighthood. Unfortunately, one gets the impression that those authorized to handle the case are too slow in their actions and do not have enough spirit of reform.

Secretly, but surely, people are carefully following the process of legal enforcement in this country. Do not let people's patience run out and consequently take the law into their own hands.

H. IFRAD SUKAMTO

Jakarta