Give democracy a chance<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman Wahid may not have had the last word when he said
\nthat a referendum would be held in Aceh within seven months, but
\nit would be foolish for anyone to deny the Acehnese the right to
\ndetermine their own future now that many of them are having
\nsecond thoughts about their existence in this republic.<\/p>\n
The President still has to argue his case before the House of
\nRepresentatives (DPR) and the People's Consultative Assembly
\n(MPR). He needs to convince some hard-headed people in Jakarta
\nthat a referendum is the best, and certainly most peaceful and
\ndemocratic, course to resolve this problem once and for all.<\/p>\n
In the way are DPR Speaker Akbar Tandjung and leaders of the
\nIndonesian Military (TNI), who are openly opposed to the
\nreferendum idea. Akbar's opposition, stemming from Abdurrahman's
\nfailure to observe the proper constitutional process, is easier
\nto deal with. The President has allowed himself seven months to
\nfulfill the procedures. TNI, given its strength, will probably be
\na harder sell. But since the problem in Aceh is largely its
\ndoing, the military voice no longer carries any moral force and
\neven sounds hypocritical. It has also raised suspicions of TNI
\nhaving strong vested interests, or an agenda, in Aceh, including
\nattempting to cover up its gross misdeeds in the province over
\nthe last 10 years.<\/p>\n
The case for allowing a referendum in Aceh is already so
\ncompelling for President Abdurrahman to make such a bold
\ncommitment. The Nov. 8 mass march in Banda Aceh, with more than
\none million people demanding a referendum, sent the loudest
\nmessage to Jakarta. MPR Speaker Amien Rais returned from Aceh
\nlast week to pronounce his support for the Acehnese demand. A
\nCabinet delegation led by State Minister of Human Rights Affairs
\nHasballah M. Saad, dispatched last week to pave the way for
\nAbdurrahman's dialog with Aceh leaders, returned with the message
\nthat the demand for a referendum was almost unanimous.<\/p>\n
The Acehnese must be praised for approaching this issue in a
\ndemocratic way. They could have taken up arms, as the Free Aceh
\nMovement (GAM) has, and fought for separation. Instead, they are
\nopting for the peaceful path. Referendum is the least the central
\nadministration in Jakarta could give them. Depriving them of this
\nright will plunge Aceh into renewed violence and provide a new
\npretext for TNI to send its troops back. It was precisely the
\nattempt to impose a military solution, with all its excesses,
\nthat fostered the current discontent in Aceh.<\/p>\n
It would be futile for TNI or anyone else to oppose the
\nreferendum following the President's commitment to the idea.
\nLingering opposition would only complicate the process, and we
\ncould end up botching the entire process the same way the
\ngovernment of B.J. Habibie did in East Timor.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman's promise of a referendum, if fully supported by
\nthe major political groups in Jakarta, should appease the people
\nof Aceh and ease tension there. They could resume their normal
\nactivities while the President fulfills the constitutional
\nrequirements and makes the necessary preparations.<\/p>\n
Politicians in Aceh and Jakarta could begin debating the
\ndetails of the referendum, especially on the options to be
\npresented in the vote.<\/p>\n
Discourse on the subject has already begun. One proposal calls
\nfor a nationwide referendum, saying that other provinces should
\nalso be consulted about the future of Aceh. Another backs a
\nnationwide vote on changing Indonesia into a federal system of
\ngovernment, which is no longer a taboo for open discussion. No
\ndoubt we will hear more proposals in the coming weeks, some
\nreasonable, others absurd, but this is what democracy is all
\nabout. The discourse on Aceh has already expanded into a healthy
\ndebate about the system of government appropriate for the country
\nas a whole.<\/p>\n
Aceh is a complex issue indeed because it is an accumulation
\nof various problems dating back more than a decade. There are no
\nsure shortcuts in resolving this problem, but the best way is
\nstill the democratic way, of which a referendum is one approach.
\nWe must give democracy a chance to work.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/give-democracy-a-chance-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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