Yet another post!
Yesterday in the The Howard Years - Indonesia and Australia I spoke of the importance of our relationship with Indonesia. Now it appears that Indonesia has requested a loan from Australia of around $US2 billion to help the country cope with the effects of the global financial crisis.
I sincerely hope that Australia can help Indonesia as we did during the Asian Financial Crisis and then the Tsunami. This is a time when neighbours must, to use a Scottish phrase, gang together.
The Asian Financial Crisis badly hurt Indonesia. The country took some time to recover. Now it is in our interests as a relatively wealthy and still very lucky country to try to ease the latest burden.
We cannot help everyone. We can help our neighbours.
Postscript
I have been trying to find out more information, so far without success. However, a story in the Jakarta Post is indicative of the local impacts of the global economic problems, with companies reporting that they intend to lay off more than 40,000 people following export contraction.
9 comments:
Hi Jims,
you seems so conscious in writing your blog lately... thats great..
you right Jim, Indonesia need much support to sustain its financial. we all know that the Asian financial crisis also hurt Indonesia, and so does with economy crisis in Europe and US, it has a big effect in Indonesia economy. So, I thank you so much with your sincerity to support Australian help for Indonesia. I also thank you for Australian government with our cooperation to help each other...
I can't say more than thank you very much for your concern for Indonesia.
It really is a hard time for all of us, but it also a moment when we know who is our true friend.
Thank you Jim, thank you Australia.
I don't think that we should thank Australia yet until we know more about the request and the Australian Government response. I wanted to get a post done quickly as a small contrbution to a positive outcome.
@Jim, When there is a will, there is a way. And your post simply said that at least you have the will, Jim. :)
That's why I felt so grateful.
@niar, thank you for visiting Stories of Picture. I hope you enjoy your visit as much as I do. :)
Thanks, Aldhis, Jim
Like Aldhis said, the real friend will be found when we in a hard condition. Thanks for this post (your willingness).
A pleasure, Tinko. One issue is that there is still limited reporting on Indonesia in Australia so Australian's familiarity with Indonesian issues tends to be limited and partial. Mind you, this is true for New Zealand as well!
Usually the press prefer for news that can attract many people, such as conflict, upheavals, or similar like that. Similarly here, the news about Australia or New Zealan is also rare on newspaper.
Perhaps, marketing science also affect the pattern of news.
Maybe, Tikno, this is where we bloggers come in!
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