Hariyanto Kurniawan, Jakarta – President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s speech stating other economic systems have failed and so they have chosen an open economic system that incorporates social justice is nothing more than political rhetoric. The reality is that the government is accelerating the process of economic liberalisation on a massive scale.

“The privatisation of state-owned enterprises, free market policies, subsidy cuts, direct [foreign] investment, are a part of the Washington Consensus’ recipe to rescue capitalism”, said National Liberation Party of Unity (Papernas) secretary general Harris Sitorus when contacted by Okezone on Thursday July 12.

Sitorus explained that the Washington Consensus, which is being driven by the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the US Department of Finance, is no more than a plot by the US to economically exploit developing countries. Law Number 25/2007 on Capital Investment and other legislation are only the latest legal instruments enacted to support the implementation of Washington Consensus recipes.

“Efforts to generate national pride by saying that cooperatives are a socially just economic system are totally missing the point and out of touch”, added Sitorus in response to Yudhoyono’s speech this afternoon at the 60th commemoration of National Cooperatives Day in Denpasar, Bali.

Sitorus said that these remarks are the same as the promises made over the Lapindo mud disaster, the promises to revitalise the rural economy and so forth. “We hope that this political rhetoric will not continue to be repeated over and over”, he said.

It would be better on the part of the government if Yudhoyono concentrates on formulating concrete policies that will bring benefits to the Indonesian people and create economic self-sufficiency. “Sympathize with our people who continue to be coolies in their own nation”, said Sitorus. (hri)

[Translated by James Balowski.]