Freedom
Nice thoughts, keep Indonesia free. Unity and democracy is the clue to true freedom. Good luck in tough times.
Miguel <jomiguel@aol.com>, 9 November 1998.
Greed
Sad to say I believe the current problems in Indonesia, and perhaps even worse to come, are no surprise. The West and especially the USA have much to do with it, the operative word being Greed.
By relentlessly pushing a completely open and free market economy onto unsuspecting people, western (read US) businessmen, lobbyists, and politicians hoped to create new consumer demand for their goods. The only regime in the world that seem to be fully aware of that situation are the Mainland Chinese, who will take some but not all of the West’s ‘teachings’.
The naked truth is that a free and open market economy works in the US, and to a large extent in Europe, only because there are real checks and balances. In the US these consist of a freely elected congress, and an independent judiciary. And none are run by the same clique as the executive branch. Unfortunately, in Indonesia the required checks and balances are simply not there, and thus greed had a field day.
Ronald Kortelink, 14 November 1998.
Congrats
Congratulations on maintaining the high standards of Congratulations - your magazine continues to offer the best, most detailed and unprejudiced view on this fascinating nation. I’m currently writing a guide book to Indonesia for the English publishers Rough Guide, and consistently find myself turning to your website and magazine for the latest information.
Keep up the good work.
Henry Stedman, UK <hstedman@globalnet.co.uk>, 30 December 1998.
Inside Indonesia 58: Apr-Jun 1999
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