Don't quit on `Reformasi'<\/p>\n
It was exactly five years ago today that then president
\nSoeharto made a decision that would mark an important milestone
\nin the history of modern Indonesia. His decision to quit the
\npresidency, in the face of mounting public pressure, ushered in
\nwhat the nation calls Reformasi, or the reform era.<\/p>\n
It also marked the end of Soeharto's tyrannical 32-year rule,
\nan era that was marked by rapid economic progress but little
\nelse, and rampant corruption that not only ultimately brought the
\nnation to the edge of bankruptcy, but also caused Soeharto's own
\ndownfall.<\/p>\n
As we commemorate the fifth year of Reformasi today, it is
\nvalid to ask what we have achieved thus far, especially given the
\nsacrifices that we, or some of us, made to make this change
\npossible.<\/p>\n
We need to ask this question because there is much despondency
\namong the people because of the lack of progress of Reformasi. So
\nmuch so that many people are already willing to call it a day,
\nand some are even calling for a return to the "good old days of
\nSoeharto".<\/p>\n
Understandably, most people measure Reformasi in terms of how
\nit has impacted on them. Have their lives gotten better in these
\nlast five years? If this is the only measure of success, then
\nmany people have the right to feel disappointed.<\/p>\n
It is fair to say that for the majority of Indonesians, life
\nhas not gotten better. Millions more people are out of work today
\nand millions more have fallen into poverty. Even most salaried,
\nmiddle-class people have not seen their real income levels return
\nto anywhere near where they were five years ago.<\/p>\n
For people in conflict zones like Aceh, Papua, Maluku, Central
\nSulawesi and parts of Kalimantan, the last five years have
\nbrought misery, as the government has failed to ensure law and
\norder and to protect their lives and property. Crime rates have
\nalso risen across the nation, including in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
If Reformasi has afforded the nation the right to freedom of
\nexpression and the right to form associations, it has miserably
\nfailed to protect the people's right to freedom from poverty and
\nfear.<\/p>\n
Many people would trade a little of their freedom for a little
\nmore prosperity and security; hence the longing for a return to a
\nSoeharto-type ruler we now hear from some people.<\/p>\n
Given the failure of the past five years to improve our lives,
\nshould we abandon Reformasi?<\/p>\n
No, if we look at Reformasi as a process for laying the
\nfoundations for a more humane civil society in this country.<\/p>\n
Civil society must be seen as a package that offers our nation
\na life in which all our freedoms are guaranteed as we advance and
\nprosper. In civil society, democratization and economic
\ndevelopment must move in tandem if they are to be lasting, or at
\nleast sustainable. We cannot have one without the other.<\/p>\n
We know from our experience under the Soeharto regime that
\neconomic development without democracy is not sustainable. We
\nalso know from other countries' experiences that democracy alone
\ndoes not guarantee economic prosperity.<\/p>\n
Reformasi must therefore be seen as the means by which this
\nnation marches toward civil society. It is a process, and one
\nthat involves a lot of learning by trial and error. Today, we are
\nstill at the bottom of that very long learning curve.<\/p>\n
Seen in terms of building a civil society, we have made some
\nprogress these last five years; not a lot, but enough to keep
\nalive the hope that a civil society will take root in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Reformasi was a huge undertaking that this nation embarked on
\nfive years ago, because we knew we had no other option. We needed
\nto reform our political system, its institutions and its culture;
\nand at the same time, we also needed to reform the economy, the
\nlegal system and decentralize the government.<\/p>\n
As if these problems were not complicated enough, we also have
\nhad to deal with very powerful forces with strong vested
\ninterests in keeping alive the status quo.<\/p>\n
These forces have flexed their muscles to try and stop our
\nmarch toward civil society. And at times they seem to be winning
\nthe war. The military campaign launched in Aceh is the clearest
\nexample of how the civil society camp has lost its grip. The fact
\nthat the majority of the nation supports the military operation
\nin Aceh, an operation that violates the principles of civil
\nsociety, tells us that the spirit of Reformasi is waning among
\nthe people of this country.<\/p>\n
Despondent at this huge setback? Definitely, but it is no
\nreason to throw in the towel on Reformasi.<\/p>\n
Let's not quit just yet. We owe it to ourselves, and to those
\nwho gave their blood, sweat and tears to make Reformasi possible
\nfive years ago, to keep moving forward.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/dont-quit-on-reformasi-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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