THE prosperous era that Andi Rohmat experienced vanished in an instant. For the past two and a half months Andis business at Tanggulangin district in Sidoarjo, East Java, was devoid of buyers. The producer of leather bags, suitcases, shoes, belts, and wallets could only stare blankly at his pile of unsold goods.

As recently as the end of last May, Andis cup was still overflowing. From a business started by his father in the 1970s, Andi was able to