Cry for justice often isn't heard in Indonesia<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The cry for justice is rarely heard in Indonesia
\n-- not because there is no cause for it -- but because the
\nculture does not encourage people to indulge in such practices,
\naccording to a seminar on social justice.<\/p>\n
A number of speakers at the seminar felt that Indonesian
\nculture dictates that most Indonesians simply accept their fate
\nwith little complaint. This includes when their interests or
\nrights are being trampled.<\/p>\n
People need to develop the culture of speaking out about
\nsocial injustice, the members of the seminar, which was jointly
\norganized by the Islam 45 University and Republika daily,
\nconcluded on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Speakers and participants of the seminar agreed that to create
\nequal justice, the people must be encouraged to reject any action
\nby the government which harms their interests instead of simply
\naccepting them.<\/p>\n
They are also of the opinion that it was high time the
\ngovernment gave more freedom for people to participate in
\npolitics to give them the chance to express their opinion.<\/p>\n
Seven speakers addressed the seminar on \"The Various
\nDimensions of Justice in Development and Social Changes\".<\/p>\n
Minister\/State Secretary Moerdiono delivered the keynote
\naddress along with other speakers, which included economist
\nSritua Arief, Moslem scholar Nurcholish Madjid, poet Emha Ainun
\nNadjib and political analyst Amir Santoso.<\/p>\n
Moerdiono said in his speech that the concept of justice, upon
\nwhich Indonesia was founded 49 years ago, should be fully
\nimplemented. \"Independence is about humanity and justice. Justice
\nand Prosperity are the two goals of our independence struggle,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
\"Social Justice for All\" is the fifth and last tenet of
\nPancasila, the five-point state ideology. Critics of the
\ngovernment said Indonesia should achieve this goal immediately.<\/p>\n
In his presentation Sritua questioned the government's
\ncommitment to this goal, given that the people rarely complain.<\/p>\n
\"We have a shameful culture because we haven't made justice
\none of our primary concerns,\" Sritua said.<\/p>\n
People should develop a less complacent attitude, especially
\nwhen their interests or rights are being threatened, Sritua said.<\/p>\n
He said he agreed with the thought of the late Sutan Syahrir,
\nIndonesia' first prime minister, who said people should not
\naccept the situation as given but should fight to improve it.<\/p>\n
Justice<\/p>\n
\"Our social history tells us that, to this day, we've not yet
\nbeen willing or able to further the objectives set out when we
\nfought for independence to establish social and economic
\njustice,\" Sritua said.<\/p>\n
He said it would probably take a major political reform to
\ncreate an administration which is truly committed to the
\npromotion of justice.<\/p>\n
Amir told the participants that justice and democracy are
\nalready seen as a necessity in Indonesia because of the global
\npressures.<\/p>\n
He said the government will be under increasing pressure to
\nmake way for democracy and justice as more and more people are
\nnow being enlisted as taxpayers.<\/p>\n
Amir, however, felt that the political system has not allowed
\nfor an effective control of the government's power. \"Power tends
\nto corrupt in the absence of effective supervision,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said equal income for all may be a utopia, but the
\ngovernment should at least create an atmosphere that allows for
\nequal opportunity for all.<\/p>\n
He cited as an example the government's economic policy
\nwhich has greatly favored the big and powerful companies, which
\nenjoy privileges and special protection.<\/p>\n
In contrast, small businesses are denied access to loans.<\/p>\n
Nurcholish and Emha discussed the concept of justice from an
\nIslamic perspective and both agreed that political justice could
\nbe created through promoting democracy. (par)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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