Calls for criticism continue despite Soeharto's speech<\/p>\n
MEDAN, North Sumatra (JP): Three leading social scientists
\nyesterday graciously accepted President Soeharto's criticism of
\ntheir profession, but said it would not stop them criticizing the
\ngovernment.<\/p>\n
Political observer Riswandha Imawan of the Yogyakarta-based
\nGadjah Mada University said here yesterday that Soeharto was
\nright on the uncertain nature of social sciences.<\/p>\n
"Unlike physicians or engineers, social scientists cannot
\noffer solutions which last long because social phenomenon change
\neasily," Riswandha said.<\/p>\n
Population development expert Sofian Effendi, who is an
\nassistant to Minister of Research and Technology B.J. Habibie,
\nadmitted that social scientists had been more like social critics
\nthan academics.<\/p>\n
Soeharto rapped social scientists over the knuckles Tuesday,
\ncharging them of voicing unsubstantiated analysis of the unrest
\nthat has rocked the country in recent months. He also criticized
\nthem for analyzing past incidents while failing to come up with
\nsolutions to prevent more upheaval.<\/p>\n
Soeharto was speaking at the opening of an ongoing seminar
\norganized by the Indonesian Association for the Development of
\nSocial Sciences.<\/p>\n
Riswandha said social scientists could offer precise solutions
\nif respondents in their research felt free to talk about their
\nproblems.<\/p>\n
"The public has been kept away from political matters for too
\nlong, and when the political openness was introduced they
\nremained cautious," he said.<\/p>\n
He refuted Soeharto's statements that social scientists had
\nfailed to anticipate social unrest.<\/p>\n
"We have been discriminated against by the government. We
\ncontinuously provided the government with our suggestions, but
\nnone were heeded because they only asked for technology experts'
\nand economists' views," he said.<\/p>\n
The failure to take account social scientists' advice had
\nbrought about policies which calculated economic and other
\nbenefits but not social costs, he said.<\/p>\n
Riswandha said Soeharto's warning might have been related to
\nthe election, which he believed would serve as a gauge of the
\npublic's trust in the political system.<\/p>\n
He said a survey in Malang, East Java, had found that 92
\npercent of the town's youths had stated they would not vote on
\nMay 29.<\/p>\n
Another survey, conducted last year by Riswandha, found that
\n60 percent of Yogyakarta's youths did not want to go to the
\npolls.<\/p>\n
Sofian said social scientists could function as critics, as
\nlong as they furnished adequate data and evidence to support
\ntheir arguments.<\/p>\n
He admitted that many social scientists identified problems
\nbut failed to formulate solutions.<\/p>\n
But Sofian accused the government of doing the same thing.
\n"Many public policies were made as short-term solutions without
\ntouching the roots of problems," he said.<\/p>\n
Sociologist Loekman Soetrisno speculated that Soeharto had
\nmade his remarks because he had not been supplied with adequate
\ninformation on the development of social sciences in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
He said the country had many qualified social scientists,
\nincluding those at the respected National Institute of Sciences.
\n"The problem is that there is a tendency among some groups in
\nsociety to judge critical attitudes as unprofessional," he said.<\/p>\n
He acknowledged there might be cases where social scientists
\nhad made inaccurate or groundless analysis, but there were many
\nwho were professional. (amd\/swa)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/calls-for-criticism-continue-despite-soehartos-speech-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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