A learning process<\/p>\n
Strained relations between President Abdurrahman Wahid and
\nMuslim-oriented political parties show that democracy is very
\nmuch alive here. The rift is also teaching those involved that
\nthey still have much to learn about navigating the political
\ncurrents of newfound openness.<\/p>\n
The development resulted from the uproar over Maluku. The
\ntragic sectarian conflict has enraged many Muslim politicians in
\nJakarta, who consider people from their faith to have suffered
\nthe most in the strife.<\/p>\n
Their fervent reaction has struck a discordant note with many,
\nincluding the President. Gus Dur, as the President is popularly
\nknown, was particularly irritated by calls for a jihad made at
\nthe mass rally at the National Monument on the eve of the Idul
\nFitri holiday.<\/p>\n
Besides calling for a holy war, the thousands of members of
\npolitical parties also demanded Vice President Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri's resignation because of her perceived inaction in
\nputting an end to the violence.<\/p>\n
A clearly irked Gus Dur considered the rally to be part of a
\ncampaign to unseat him. The leaders of the parties involved, who
\nwere apparently taken aback by his reaction, said in their
\ndefense that the call was meant to push the government to act
\nquickly and firmly to put an end to the hostilities.<\/p>\n
The President's indignant response appears to have been
\neffective; Muslim organizations have subsequently expressed their
\nopinions in a more moderate, cool-headed way. But what lingers is
\nthe earlier contentious approach of some groups, which was
\nunpleasant, if not to say alarming.<\/p>\n
Many social and political groups have gone overboard in their
\nzeal to capitalize on freedom. Some observers have taken a
\nmagnanimous view of the development, considering it
\nunderstandable that the country's more than 200 million people
\nwould be caught up in the desire to shout out their grievances
\nafter more than 30 years of choking silence under Soeharto.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, \"mob politics\" -- some might term it pandering
\nto the masses, others call it rabble-rousing -- has been part of
\nthe trend. Groups have tried to impose their ideas on others
\nthrough intimidation, with taking to the streets the most popular
\nploy.<\/p>\n
The question now is whether this approach is relevant after a
\npredominantly fair general election -- the first in this country
\nsince 1955 -- in June? Why do some believe they have to resort to
\nintimidation or flout the law to push their ideas and moral
\nstandards on others when they have elected representatives to
\nspeak for them? Their actions show a distrust, if not cynicism,
\nfor the tenets of democracy in our country, the legislative
\nsystem and the general election on which so many hopes were
\nrealized.<\/p>\n
One only has to look at our reality to find their doubts are
\nunfounded. An effective government is now at work and many
\npositive steps have been made to redress the devastation Soeharto
\nleft behind. It is also clear that those holding the protest
\nrallies are the same old people, professing to speak on behalf of
\ntheir religion as if they are the only ones who can claim to be
\npart of the faithful. A more ironic, telling truth is that those
\nnow taking issue with the present administration were the
\napologists and supporters of B.J. Habibie's bungling
\nadministration.<\/p>\n
Last week's call for a jihad may do little to undermine Gus
\nDur's position among most Indonesians, but it hid the
\ncompassionate character of Islam to the world, unwittingly
\nstoking the misperceptions which continue to prevail in the West.<\/p>\n
Of course, we do not expect everything to run perfectly during
\nan untested period when we are learning what it means to exercise
\ndemocracy. We understand that these are still early days for all
\nof us. The media, for example, must learn not to overreach its
\nlimits, and the President likewise has to learn how to speak in a
\nmore statesmanly manner.<\/p>\n
But, as we take these faltering steps to a more just society,
\nwe must also recognize that we would be turning back the clock to
\na Soeharto-style authoritarianism if there is a group among us
\nwho claims to have a corner on the truth.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/a-learning-process-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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