Beneficial criticism<\/p>\n
Some statements issued by Armed Forces (ABRI) leaders over the
\npast few days have brought a welcome whiff of fresh air to the
\npresent crisis-burdened atmosphere.<\/p>\n
It is not so much because the statements appear to suggest
\ngrowing room for free expression in this country but because they
\ncould be indicative of a growing political maturity on all sides.<\/p>\n
Saturday's reported message from Lt. Gen. Susilo Bambang
\nYudhoyono, the Armed Forces Chief of Political Affairs, to Amien
\nRais, chairman of the 28-million strong Muhammadiyah Islamic
\norganization, must have come as somewhat of a (welcome) surprise
\nto quite a number of people.<\/p>\n
During a meeting \"of the brains and the hearts\" at Sheraton
\nMustika Hotel in Yogyakarta last week, Gen. Yudhoyono was
\nreported to have told Amien not to stop vocalizing his critical
\nviews for the good of the nation.<\/p>\n
In the meeting, which lasted for about 90 minutes, Amien and
\nYudhoyono, accompanied by their respective entourages, exchanged
\nanalyses on the current situation in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
And, in Amien's account, arrived at the conclusion that,
\nbasically, the Armed Forces leaders held similar views to
\nintellectuals with regard to what kind of measures were needed to
\ncope with the present crisis.<\/p>\n
Because of this common perception, ABRI will not prevent the
\nintellectuals from being critical.<\/p>\n
\"I see that there is a strong will on the part of ABRI to
\nlisten to the people and heed their aspirations. This is why ABRI
\nis asking intellectuals to keep on being critical, making
\ncorrections for the good of the nation,\" Amien told reporters
\nafterwards.<\/p>\n
Earlier in the week, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Subagyo
\nHadisiswoyo, praised Amien for his \"mature and wise\" criticism of
\nthe government.<\/p>\n
The essential points of Amien's criticism of the government
\nshould, by now, be well enough known to the public. In their
\nbarest essence, his demands include the establishment of a clean
\ngovernment which is accountable to the public and a more open and
\nelegant system of leadership recruitment and power sharing.<\/p>\n
In the context of these developments, a little news item
\npublished in the daily newspaper Kompas a few days ago deserves
\nto be noted.<\/p>\n
The report mentioned that at a meeting in Bandung earlier in
\nthe week, Amien cautioned his audience to exercise patience and
\nstay away from destructive acts of violence while continuing to
\nstrive for a better, more open, society.<\/p>\n
Asked by reporters why he appeared to be toning down the
\nfervor of his public criticism, Amien replied that he had become
\nconvinced of ABRI's understanding of the situation.<\/p>\n
Like most intellectuals, Amien said, ABRI realized that
\nreforms were needed. However, considering that hasty, reckless
\nmeasures would destroy the nation instead of help it, it was
\ndetermined to follow the path of gradual, calculated change
\ntoward a more workable democratic system.<\/p>\n
Amien, according to the report, not only accepted the
\nargument, but respected it.<\/p>\n
It appears, then, that the gap that still seems to separate
\nthe power establishment and the public at large is not
\nnecessarily unbridgeable, wide as it may still seem at present.<\/p>\n
If it is true that the developments mentioned signal a growing
\nmaturity on all parts involved in the national debate about the
\nfuture of our democracy, then we appear to be on the right path.<\/p>\n
The maturity to accept open and direct criticism in a spirit
\nof good sportsmanship on the one hand, and to know the generally
\naccepted limits of social and political liberties on the other,
\nis an essential prerequisite for a healthy democracy.<\/p>\n
Healthy criticism is not synonymous with fault-finding, it
\nmust also give due praise to whatever deserves to be praised.
\nAmien Rais's assurance that he would be the first to give his
\nsupport to President Soeharto if he succeeded in mending the
\ncurrent situation within six months, may serve as an example.<\/p>\n
For the sake of the healthy growth of our democracy, we hope
\nIndonesians can take the lessons of the past few days to heart.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/beneficial-criticism-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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