Govts use nationalism to deny human rights<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Governments of many developing nations often use
\nnationalism to reject universal human values, noted Moslem leader
\nAbdurrahman Wahid said yesterday.<\/p>\n
\"Human rights, for example, are rejected using nationalism as
\na pretext,\" Abdurrahman said.<\/p>\n
On the positive side, he said, Indonesia has unique values
\nwhich help keep the nation unified while other countries are
\ndisintegrating.<\/p>\n
He said that religions which have their own set of universal
\nvalues have not always been compatible with nationalism.<\/p>\n
\"Isn't one is always discouraged from changing one's
\nreligion?\" he asked, adding: \"This is also against universal
\nhuman values.\"<\/p>\n
This means, he said, that in Indonesia there is an uneasy
\nrelationship between nationalism, universal values and religion.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman made the remarks during the launching of Politics
\nin Indonesia: Democracy, Islam and the ideology of tolerance at
\nthe headquarters of the Centre for Strategic and International
\nStudies (CSIS).<\/p>\n
The book, published by Routledge of London, is based on a cum
\nlaude dissertation of Douglas E. Ramage, a young American scholar
\nfrom the University of South Carolina, United States.<\/p>\n
\"Such an uneasy relationship bodes ill for us. Our unity as a
\nnation is under threat,\" said Abdurrahman, who was one of the
\nmain sources of the book.<\/p>\n
Ramage's book, he said, provides a common platform for looking
\nat the issue.<\/p>\n
The book centers on Indonesian politics and the unusually
\ntolerant attitude shown by Abdurrahman, who is the leader of
\nNahdlatul Ulama, a large rural-based socio-religious Moslem
\norganization.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman demonstrated an anti-sectarian attitude when he
\nopposed the establishment of the Association of Moslem
\nIntellectuals of Indonesia (ICMI) in 1990.<\/p>\n
Because of his unconventional stance Abdurrahman is often at
\nodds with other Moslem leaders who put Islam before the question
\nof nationality.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman speaks in the book about his differences with
\nAmien Rais, the leader of another influential Moslem
\norganization, the urban-based Muhammadiyah.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman said yesterday that Ramage learned that
\nIndonesians, despite differences of interpretation of the state
\nideology, Pancasila, have remained united as a nation.<\/p>\n
\"Their differences are not disintegrative in nature but they
\nset up a framework which is integrative. This is an important
\nthing to be remembered by Indonesians. If we hold on to this we
\nwill share the same values,\" Abdurrahman said.<\/p>\n
Harry Tjan Silalahi, the vice chairman of CSIS's Supervisory
\nBoard, said the book focuses on the spirit of the Indonesian
\nnation as it deals with Pancasila.<\/p>\n
CSIS sponsored Ramage's research during his writing of the
\n272-page book. The book is distributed in Indonesia through
\nSingapore-based Select book stores at Rp 80,000 (US$35) a copy.
\n(hbk)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/govts-use-nationalism-to-deny-human-rights-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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