The arrest of Polaris CEO in a business dispute should have shaken up most corporate executives in India doing business abroad. Particularly companies doing business with countries where a democratic system of Governance is absent will be at the mercy of the ruling junta at all times.

The IT industry should recognize that the current problem is not a problem in isolation which can be seen as an opportunity for themselves. They should recognize that what has happenned to Polaris today can happen to others tomorrow. The cost of legal negligence can be killing.

Has the industry peers of Polaris recognized the lessons of this episode? Have they come together to bring pressure on the International Business Community to threaten a boycott of Indonesia? Has the International Chamber of Commerce been asked to intervene?.. are some of the questions that arise in this juncture.

Just as in the Veerappan saga, politicians try to score points over other politicians without finding a solution, the industry people should not lag behind rallying their fellow professionals. While the Indian Government under the persuation of Mr Pramod Mahajan can be expected to do its best, the industry has to move the International community to combat this "Business Terrorism".

Talking about terrorism, it is not  improbable that the sympathy that Terrorism against India enjoys in Indonesia could be behind the extreme step taken by the Government of Indonesia in this regard.

Nothing short of a global IT boycott of Indonesia would be an appropriate response to this kind of arrogant behaviour.

Naavi

December 18 , 2002

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