Demands To Cancel Indonesian Debts To IMF

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta:The Pro-democratic Activists Network (PRODEM) and the Action Study Circle for Indonesian Democracy (LS-ADI) carried out a protest at Jakarta Stock Exchange (BEJ) building today, April 23. They demanded that the IMF, which resides in the JSX building, immediately cancel Indonesian foreign debt that accrued during the era of the New Order government. They argue that the US $ 200 billion -debt is a trap made by the IMF, the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank to burden Indonesian people.

They carried two white banners inscribed with “New Order Government’s Debts Are Not Ours” and “Reject IMF, Cancel Indonesian Debts”. One activist was also smeared with yellow paint the color of Golkar party- to symbolize the corruption, collusion, nepotism and cronyism (KKN) practiced under Golkar.

The protest was aimed at demanding the Government and pro-reform movements immediately take tough law enforcement measures against those involved in KKN (including those within new political parties), such as seizing assets and imprisoning corrupt figures once proven guilty.

According to PRODEM work committee Chairman Nuku Suleiman, the protest was carried out in anticipation of the Consultative Group on Indonesia (CGI) meeting which shall be held today and tomorrow in Jakarta. On the CGI agenda is a discussion of what to do with Indonesian foreign debts inherited from the New Order government.

PRODEM considered the current administration as having failed to carry out a reform agenda as mandated by the people, especially in economic, political, security and legal sectors. President Abdurrahman Wahid’s administration is also considered to have failed to establish good and clean governance, which would be a pre-requisite for debt cancellation. ‘We demand that President Wahid’s administration be subject to a special session in the MPR,” Nuku said.

Meanwhile, LS-ADI demanded that the Government refuse to sign an agreement with the IMF. They consider the IMF to have been robbing Indonesian people’s money since the early monetary crisis. They consider the IMF to be unhelpful in assisting Indonesian people to get out of the crisis, as the institution seems only to trigger collapses in the Indonesian economy and allow US’ aides to give orders to the Indonesian government in all sectors, including in making policies.