Kaget! Suntuk! Pening!
Itulah perasaanku saat membaca berita di Okezone dan Detik pagi hari ini (07.00 waktu Tokyo, 05.00 WIB).
Bagaimana tidak, Ketua DPRD Sumut dikeroyok demonstran dan akhirnya meninggal dunia. Bayangkan, Ketua DPRD! Seseorang dengan posisi tersebut setara kedudukannya dengan seorang Gubernur, Pangdam, Kapolda. Bisa kita bayangkan seseorang yang posisinya demikian penting, nyawanya begitu murah; apalagi kita-kita rakyat jelata. Pantas saja harga seorang manusia di negeri kita lebih murah dari seekor sapi bahkan kambing....
Allah swt sudah memuliakan manusia, mengapa kita merendahkan martabat kita sendiri dengan main hakim sendiri?
Coba kita ingat-ingat lagi, jangan lupakan sejarah. Demokrasi Indonesia hari ini merupakan hasil perjuangan panjang. Berrdarah-darah, berliku-liku. Bahkan trade off-nya adalah nama Indonesia masih tercemar karena peristiwa kerusuhan 1998, yang sukses memaksa tamatnya sebuah rezim antidemokrasi. Namun jika demokrasi ini tidak kita pelihara, dan liar menjadi Demo-Crazy, jangan kaget jika rezim otoritarian akan muncul kembali.
Pak polisi, bekerja yang baik, kalau tidak sanggup menjaga ketrentaman, anarkisme merajalela. Kacau negara ini.
Para anggota parpol, mahasiswa, aktivis LSM, dan semua kita, peliharalah demokrasi ini, dan stop Demo-crazy! Demokrasi yang bertanggung jawab, jangan kebablasan.
Ohya, yang terpenting, tegakkan hukum! Adili seberat-beratnya aktor intelektual dan pelaku lapangan. Jangan taburkan bibit konflik di negeri yang plural ini dengan intervensi politik dalam hukum. Karena "membunuh satu orang sama dengan membunuh semua manusia".
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
Sunday, February 01, 2009
Dear Americans, Please Read Non-American Books
Until now, no one denies that United States of America is the most powerful country in the world. Within its border, there are more than 300 million multiracial people who make a living to grab “the American Dream”. Despite their supremacy, they are “only” a small portion of a crowded world of which the population is estimated around 6.75 billion people according to the US Census Bureau as of January 2009. Therefore, Americans should consider other nationalities who are living together in this small planet. Recently, American behaviors during the Bush era were regarded as destructive and rude. Many prominent figures criticized and asked Americans to behave as part of global citizenry and treat people respectfully. Obama in his inauguration speech also acknowledged a number of mistakes made by his predecessor. In line with this issue, in my opinion, there is one “positive” side of the current economic turmoil which was started by the burst of the US
In terms of listening to the world, I encourage Americans to enrich their references by reading books that are written by other nationalities authors including those from developing countries. I believe in habit of reading books as a good start to be a good global citizen and to be able to treat other people appropriately since a book is a window to the world. Also, by reading books, we could develop knowledge and comprehension about almost everything. Unfortunately, reading books still useless for providing Americans with a better understanding about the world unless they have willingness to read books which are written by non-American authors.
I am offering at least three positive effects to Americans whoever read the books of non-American authors. The first benefit is a broader point of view. Any American who reads foreign books will experience different “tastes” and perspectives. He could understand the way of thinking of other nations, religions, etc. As a result, he might examine what is the real reason of a situation from every consideration. This ability enables him to develop a better personal judgment. The second outcome is better understanding about people around the globe. Obviously, when you aware of such things in what others like or dislike, a better relationship will be built up. A perished future of the world prediction made by Samuel Huntington (1996) in “The Clash of Civilizations” will never happen if people understand each other. Finally, by understanding people we will create respect for humankind. Despite invading other countries, American could send peaceful message to every inch of the land. Moreover, you can promote soft power in which abundant people will gather around you and support it.
I hope Obama, as he promised, will bring the real change to Americans at first and then, could influence the world. However, with most Americans still reluctant to pay attention to foreign books, building a common understanding will remain hard to achieve, even with more equality among humankind. But, at least, I still have a hope which I can believe in.
In terms of listening to the world, I encourage Americans to enrich their references by reading books that are written by other nationalities authors including those from developing countries. I believe in habit of reading books as a good start to be a good global citizen and to be able to treat other people appropriately since a book is a window to the world. Also, by reading books, we could develop knowledge and comprehension about almost everything. Unfortunately, reading books still useless for providing Americans with a better understanding about the world unless they have willingness to read books which are written by non-American authors.
I am offering at least three positive effects to Americans whoever read the books of non-American authors. The first benefit is a broader point of view. Any American who reads foreign books will experience different “tastes” and perspectives. He could understand the way of thinking of other nations, religions, etc. As a result, he might examine what is the real reason of a situation from every consideration. This ability enables him to develop a better personal judgment. The second outcome is better understanding about people around the globe. Obviously, when you aware of such things in what others like or dislike, a better relationship will be built up. A perished future of the world prediction made by Samuel Huntington (1996) in “The Clash of Civilizations” will never happen if people understand each other. Finally, by understanding people we will create respect for humankind. Despite invading other countries, American could send peaceful message to every inch of the land. Moreover, you can promote soft power in which abundant people will gather around you and support it.
I hope Obama, as he promised, will bring the real change to Americans at first and then, could influence the world. However, with most Americans still reluctant to pay attention to foreign books, building a common understanding will remain hard to achieve, even with more equality among humankind. But, at least, I still have a hope which I can believe in.
Indonesia is managing the global recession better than most
Indonesia is managing the global recession better than most, thanks to its tough finance minister.
Solenn Honorine and George Wehrfritz
NEWSWEEK
From the magazine issue dated Jan 19, 2009
Last month a financial tidal wave washed over Indonesia, but not the one kicked up by the global credit crisis. Money flooded into government coffers from individuals and corporations eager to avail themselves of Jakarta's "sunset policy" on tax delinquency, which forgave past evasions in exchange for good behavior going forward. The exact size of the surge isn't yet known, but economists estimate that tax receipts were up more than 50 percent for the year. "We saw quite a big jump" in revenue in December from "taxpayers who never existed [on the tax rolls] or want to correct mistakes made in the past," says the plan's creator, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati. Indonesians, she adds, are honoring their tax obligations "in a much more accurate way."
The influx marks a major triumph for Indonesia's current government and, in particular, for the woman who put Jakarta's financial house in order. Over the past four years, Mulyani has helped dismantle the financial architecture of the crony capitalism built by strongman Suharto before his 32-year reign ended in 1998. She has pressed hard to slash debt, both public and private; pushed through a rollback of budget-busting fuel subsidies; and overseen sweeping reforms of the customs and tax authorities—position ing Indonesia to post the world's best (or at least the least bad) emerging-market growth story in 2009. Unnoticed until recently, Jakarta's conservatism is now the envy of the developing world, and Mulyani is being hailed as a model regulator. "She could be the finance minister anywhere in the world," says James Castle, founder of the consultancy CastleAsia. "She's that good."
Largely to Mulyani's credit, the country's balance sheet is now among the most conservative in the world; government debt now sits at just 30 percent of GDP, down from more than 100 percent a decade ago, while Indonesia Inc. is far less leveraged than its peers elsewhere in Asia. Despite that relative austerity, growth is being driven both by commodities—Indonesia's traditional mainstay—and by strong domestic consumption from a population approaching 240 million. And neither the commodity bust (which has also driven down the price of the imported energy on which Indonesia depends) nor tighter global credit looks set to hobble a country that, from the household to the boardroom and cabinet chambers, is all but debt-free.
Indeed, Indonesia is one of just three major emerging economies forecast to grow faster than 4 percent in 2009. The other two—China and India—have decelerated more rapidly in recent months and face tougher policy challenges. Mulyani says Indonesia could expand by as much as 5.5 percent this year, which is barely slower than the 6 percent it clocked in 2008, and perhaps enough to pip one of its two Asian counterparts in this year's growth race. Not bad, considering that the country's economy collapsed in 1998, shrinking 18 percent in a single year. Wolfgang Fengler, a senior economist at the World Bank, says Jakarta's macroeconomic management is now "as good as it gets."
Indonesia owes its turnaround to an ensemble cast. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has provided the political stability and pro-globalization vision that underpin today's successes. Boediono (who goes by one name) was a deft coordinating minister for economics until he handed the brief to Mulyani last May to head Indonesia's central bank, and Trade Minister Mari Pangestu deserves plaudits for kick-starting Indonesia's export economy. Yet Mulyani stands out for her toughness. She says her staff had to "swallow a lot of very bitter reality" during her first six months on the job. After landing there, for example, she confronted senior staff: "How can you send your daughter or your son to study abroad when you earn only this kind of salary? Where did you get the money?" To which she added: "You have to admit: we are all committing this crime." Her staffers still work evenings and weekends to meet her expectations, and she's been known to tangle with colleagues. Last year she lobbied intensively to ram through a deeply unpopular reduction in fuel subsidies that President Yudhoyono initially opposed. "She got her way because she is capable of playing politics," says Anton Gunawan, chief economist at Bank Danamon in Jakarta.
Yet by raising pay for bureaucrats, and not demonizing those who previously took payoffs to make ends meet, she has raised standards and steeled a reputation as an incorruptible reformer. Her message to her staff is simple and positive: "I only have one goal: I want the Indonesian people to trust us, this department, because this country will go nowhere if the people don't start to trust their own government." Though nobody would yet describe Indonesia as a model of transparency, the changes in its taxation and customs administrations have been profound, and in turn have enhanced Indonesia's growth potential to the point that "the world needs to update the way it thinks about the country," wrote Nicholas Cashmore, CLSA investment bank's Indonesia analyst, in mid-2008, declaring: "Southeast Asia's largest economy is in great shape." And thanks to Mulyani, Indonesia is garnering more respect by the day.
Solenn Honorine and George Wehrfritz
NEWSWEEK
From the magazine issue dated Jan 19, 2009
Last month a financial tidal wave washed over Indonesia, but not the one kicked up by the global credit crisis. Money flooded into government coffers from individuals and corporations eager to avail themselves of Jakarta's "sunset policy" on tax delinquency, which forgave past evasions in exchange for good behavior going forward. The exact size of the surge isn't yet known, but economists estimate that tax receipts were up more than 50 percent for the year. "We saw quite a big jump" in revenue in December from "taxpayers who never existed [on the tax rolls] or want to correct mistakes made in the past," says the plan's creator, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati. Indonesians, she adds, are honoring their tax obligations "in a much more accurate way."
The influx marks a major triumph for Indonesia's current government and, in particular, for the woman who put Jakarta's financial house in order. Over the past four years, Mulyani has helped dismantle the financial architecture of the crony capitalism built by strongman Suharto before his 32-year reign ended in 1998. She has pressed hard to slash debt, both public and private; pushed through a rollback of budget-busting fuel subsidies; and overseen sweeping reforms of the customs and tax authorities—position ing Indonesia to post the world's best (or at least the least bad) emerging-market growth story in 2009. Unnoticed until recently, Jakarta's conservatism is now the envy of the developing world, and Mulyani is being hailed as a model regulator. "She could be the finance minister anywhere in the world," says James Castle, founder of the consultancy CastleAsia. "She's that good."
Largely to Mulyani's credit, the country's balance sheet is now among the most conservative in the world; government debt now sits at just 30 percent of GDP, down from more than 100 percent a decade ago, while Indonesia Inc. is far less leveraged than its peers elsewhere in Asia. Despite that relative austerity, growth is being driven both by commodities—Indonesia's traditional mainstay—and by strong domestic consumption from a population approaching 240 million. And neither the commodity bust (which has also driven down the price of the imported energy on which Indonesia depends) nor tighter global credit looks set to hobble a country that, from the household to the boardroom and cabinet chambers, is all but debt-free.
Indeed, Indonesia is one of just three major emerging economies forecast to grow faster than 4 percent in 2009. The other two—China and India—have decelerated more rapidly in recent months and face tougher policy challenges. Mulyani says Indonesia could expand by as much as 5.5 percent this year, which is barely slower than the 6 percent it clocked in 2008, and perhaps enough to pip one of its two Asian counterparts in this year's growth race. Not bad, considering that the country's economy collapsed in 1998, shrinking 18 percent in a single year. Wolfgang Fengler, a senior economist at the World Bank, says Jakarta's macroeconomic management is now "as good as it gets."
Indonesia owes its turnaround to an ensemble cast. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has provided the political stability and pro-globalization vision that underpin today's successes. Boediono (who goes by one name) was a deft coordinating minister for economics until he handed the brief to Mulyani last May to head Indonesia's central bank, and Trade Minister Mari Pangestu deserves plaudits for kick-starting Indonesia's export economy. Yet Mulyani stands out for her toughness. She says her staff had to "swallow a lot of very bitter reality" during her first six months on the job. After landing there, for example, she confronted senior staff: "How can you send your daughter or your son to study abroad when you earn only this kind of salary? Where did you get the money?" To which she added: "You have to admit: we are all committing this crime." Her staffers still work evenings and weekends to meet her expectations, and she's been known to tangle with colleagues. Last year she lobbied intensively to ram through a deeply unpopular reduction in fuel subsidies that President Yudhoyono initially opposed. "She got her way because she is capable of playing politics," says Anton Gunawan, chief economist at Bank Danamon in Jakarta.
Yet by raising pay for bureaucrats, and not demonizing those who previously took payoffs to make ends meet, she has raised standards and steeled a reputation as an incorruptible reformer. Her message to her staff is simple and positive: "I only have one goal: I want the Indonesian people to trust us, this department, because this country will go nowhere if the people don't start to trust their own government." Though nobody would yet describe Indonesia as a model of transparency, the changes in its taxation and customs administrations have been profound, and in turn have enhanced Indonesia's growth potential to the point that "the world needs to update the way it thinks about the country," wrote Nicholas Cashmore, CLSA investment bank's Indonesia analyst, in mid-2008, declaring: "Southeast Asia's largest economy is in great shape." And thanks to Mulyani, Indonesia is garnering more respect by the day.
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