A new Indonesia, is it just a dream<\/p>\n
People are placing high hopes on the new government to lead
\nthem to a new Indonesia. What is a new Indonesia? Are we really
\nheading toward a new Indonesia, or is it just a dream? The
\nJakarta Post considers the issue.<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Sometime in the future, there will be a fabulous
\nand prosperous country where the people live peacefully and
\nhappily. A democratic country which upholds the supremacy of law
\nand fully respects human rights. One which is free from fear, and
\nof course, from corruption, collusion and nepotism.<\/p>\n
It will be called the new Indonesia.<\/p>\n
The new Indonesia, or Indonesia baru, is where the nation is
\nnow heading, or more precisely, what is dreaming of. The reform
\nmovement forced Soeharto to step down. Since his downfall, people
\nhave been dreaming of a new country, totally different from the
\npast. They want a better government with a better system, which
\nwill, in turn, open the door to a better life.<\/p>\n
Soeharto's successor, B.J. Habibie, failed to fulfill the
\npeople's dream. And now, President Abdurrahman Wahid and Vice
\nPresident Megawati Soekarnoputri are facing great challenges in
\nthe accomplishment of their task of saving the nation from
\npolitical and economic crisis. "I will lead you to a new
\nIndonesia." Megawati said at her inauguration speech on Oct. 21.<\/p>\n
The new government is only five weeks old. Some say it's too
\nearly to judge whether they can make the people's dream come
\ntrue. They say the new government should be given the chance to
\nwork and prove that they are committed to leading the nation to a
\nnew Indonesia.<\/p>\n
"Let's wait and see," said political observer J. Kristiadi
\nfrom the Centre for Strategic and International Studies. "But we
\nhave to closely watch them."<\/p>\n
The new Indonesia, according to Kristiadi, is a democratic
\ncountry. It is an easy thing to say, but its implementation is
\nquite complicated as the nation has been under the grip of an
\nauthoritarian government for too long.<\/p>\n
Director of the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation Bambang
\nWidjojanto said the new Indonesia should respect human rights,
\nuphold the supremacy of law and ensure the process of democracy
\nthat allows the public's participation in determining their own
\nfate. This can only be achieved by changing the basic structure,
\nnot only of the power system and the law, but also of the culture
\nof the people themselves.<\/p>\n
In their fight against corruption, for example, the people
\nmust be strongly committed and have the guts to say "no" to
\nbribery. People should keep demanding their rights and speaking
\nup against unfair treatment -- while at the same time, as
\nresponsible citizens, also abide by the law.<\/p>\n
In other words, people have to play an active role to realize
\ntheir dream of a new Indonesia. But, while all members of society
\nshare the same dream, its heterogeneous nature, consisting of
\npeople with different levels of education and political maturity,
\nposes a large problem.<\/p>\n
Last month, many people criticized the Bagito comedian group
\nfor parodying the physical condition of President Abdurrahman
\nWahid, popularly known as Gus Dur. It is understandable that
\npeople were angry because their leader's physical weaknesses were
\nmade the subject of a joke. But some observers worried.<\/p>\n
"You know, Gus Dur is unpredictable," Bambang said, referring
\nto his, at times confusing, inconsistency. Earlier Gus Dur said
\nhe agreed with referendum demands in Aceh, then it turned out
\nthat what he meant by referendum was not a referendum to choose
\nfreedom from Indonesia, but only for autonomy.<\/p>\n
"If there is social legitimacy from the people, Gus Dur could
\nturn into an authoritarian," he warned.<\/p>\n
Kristiadi shared Bambang's concern with what he termed as
\npopulist authoritarianism. "In the past we had state terrorism,
\nwe could have societal terrorism from people who do not want to
\nsee their leaders criticized," Kristiadi said.<\/p>\n
Economist Sri Mulyani also observes that, for many people, Gus
\nDur and Mega are "untouchable" symbols.<\/p>\n
Mulyani admitted she was rather pessimistic with the current
\nsituation, which still reflects "the strong root of the old
\npeople (from the New Order government) with the same way of
\nthinking and the same culture."<\/p>\n
Yet she also sees a ray of hope. Some people have been
\npositively affected by the culture of "openness". They now dare
\nto air their opinions at street demonstrations, on television,
\nradio and through newspapers.<\/p>\n
But will Indonesia really become a new country? History shows
\nthat ever since the birth of the nation in 1945, its leaders
\npromised a better life for the people. A prosperous country was
\npromised by Indonesia's first president, Sukarno. But it was
\nunfulfilled, and the government was taken over by Soeharto, who
\ncalled his administration the New Order. Physically, Indonesia
\ngrew fast. Many people became really rich, but many more people
\nbecame poorer.<\/p>\n
Under Soeharto's authoritarianism, the supremacy of the law
\nwas trampled, while the practice of corruption, collusion and
\nnepotism was rampant. Human rights were widely violated, freedom
\nof speech curtailed and the people deceived and kept ignorant.<\/p>\n
In May 1998, people said enough was enough. Soeharto, who had
\nbeen in power for over three decades, was toppled.<\/p>\n
And now people are putting high hopes on the new government,
\nthe duet of Gus Dur and Megawati. The nation is dreaming of a new
\nIndonesia, which must be better than the past. But it is obvious
\nthat the government alone cannot fulfill the people's dream.<\/p>\n
In order to realize the dream, people must be active and
\nconsistent in pressuring the government, and, at the same time,
\nthey must change their attitude.<\/p>\n
Sri Mulyani said that most people, while dreaming about a new
\ncountry, still have the same way of thinking and have the same
\nattitude. "Many people have the tendency to take short cuts, they
\nlive only for the moment and only think about their jobs, wages,
\nchances ... they do not have foresight."<\/p>\n
As it takes quite a long time to realize the dream, the
\npeople, who want a quick result, might forget their long-term
\ngoal.<\/p>\n
If this happens, the dream will remain a dream, the "New
\nIndonesia" a slogan and the new country a utopia. (sim)<\/p>",
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