AS Hikam's warning<\/p>\n
From Rakyat Merdeka<\/p>\n
It is interesting to take note of the warning given by Mr. AS
\nHikam in Rakyat Merdeka daily of June 9, 1999. Hats off to Mr.
\nHikam for his willingness as a political scientist to apply his
\nexpert knowledge for the establishment of a public life
\ncharacterized by compatibility, harmony and balance.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan)
\nmust carefully and wisely understand this warning. Mr. Hikam said
\nwarning that PDI Perjuangan has made a tactical error, namely
\nallowing itself to be labeled \"a secular group\". In the mass
\nmedia, members of PDI Perjuangan always emphasize that the party
\nis based on Pancasila, the state ideology.<\/p>\n
As such, PDI Perjuangan is not a party that ignores and
\nrejects the contribution from people professing a religion in
\nIndonesia, particularly moral, ethical and spiritual contribution
\nto the nation-building process. By emphasizing that the party is
\nbased on Pancasila, PDI Perjuangan at the same time wishes to
\naffirm that the new Indonesia all reform-minded Indonesians have
\nbeen fighting for is neither a secular nor a religion-based
\ncountry.<\/p>\n
Therefore, the creative contribution toward the realization of
\na Pancasila-based country becomes what people of all religions
\nare now demanding. This is clearly not the job of a particular
\nreligion only -- be it the religion of the majority of the
\npopulation or otherwise inasmuch as the majority and minority
\ndiscourse, let alone the domination of the majority and the
\ntyranny of the minority, is alien to the Pancasila discourse.<\/p>\n
In this light, in support of the wise warning sounded by Mr.
\nHikam, I also hope that legislative candidates of PDI Perjuangan
\nwill always persistently pioneer and uphold a praxis of
\npoliticians who are morally and ethically excellent, resigned and
\nfaithful to God as well that of statesmen who uphold the spirit
\nof a family life, mutual help and a harmonious, compatible and
\nbalanced life underlined by tolerance.<\/p>\n
This praxis is now a rarity in Indonesia. The problems
\nconfronted by the nation and the state cannot be solved by PDI
\nPerjuangan alone, without involving all reform-minded people in
\nthe country.<\/p>\n
SJ MAILOA<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/as-hikams-warning-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }