|
|
Article: Stumbling from crisis to crisis.(Commentary)
- Article from:
- The Washington Times (Washington, DC)
- Article date:
- August 14, 2000
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2000 News World Communications, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
Is Indonesia really a state, let alone a nation-state? The question is quite pertinent as we watch the largest Muslim country in the world - 210 million - struggling to create the national identity it has lacked since its creation by the Netherlands, its once colonial master, more than half a century ago.
Endemic corruption, widespread inter-ethnic violence, wasted international loans - these are only part of Indonesia's calamities. Far worse was a catastrophic national leadership: a onetime crooked president, Gen. Suharto, about to face trial on embezzlement and other criminal charges; a current president, the narcoleptic Adburrahman Wahid, 60, disabled and ...