Indonesia needs a dictator for two years: Observer<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Sick of the political wrangling and violence
\nravaging the country, a social scientist has suggested that
\nIndonesia adopt an authoritarian leader, or even a dictator, to
\nfirmly resolve matters and put the country back on the right
\ntrack.<\/p>\n
\"We need a dictator who will be given two years, for example,
\nto solve the problems occurring at all levels of society,\"
\nscholar Parakitri Simbolon said at a seminar titled Transitional
\nPolitics Agenda: Disintegration and Reconciliation Problems.<\/p>\n
Parakitri did not name a suitable dictator but stressed that
\nit should be someone firm and brash enough to tackle the
\nmultitude of problems.<\/p>\n
Taking his lead from 16th century Italian philosopher Niccolo
\nMachiavelli, Parakitri said it did not matter who the person was
\nor what measures were taken.<\/p>\n
What is important is the outcome, Parakitri said.<\/p>\n
Machiavelli in his classic work Il Principe advocated the
\nestablishment and maintenance of state order by authoritative
\nmeans.<\/p>\n
Parakitri remarked that the kind of \"dictator\" or
\n\"authoritarian\" he was describing should not be viewed in a
\nnegative sense, but rather as a person who is assertive to firmly
\nand swiftly make harsh decisions for the state if necessary.<\/p>\n
\"Never consider the dictator (that I mean) the equivalent of a
\ncorrupted authoritarian regime,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Apart from weeding out corruption and maintaining the
\nintegrity of the state, it would also be important for this
\nleader to completely wipe the slate clean by purging all
\nofficials who had connections with the New Order government.<\/p>\n
\"As it stands, there is no clear distinction between the new
\nand the past. People of the old genre mix with new people in the
\ngovernment,\" Parakitri said at the seminar held at the Institute
\nfor Economic and Social Research, Education and Information.<\/p>\n
He contended that only after the \"cleansing\" period could
\nfull-fledged democracy thrive, after which the so-called dictator
\nshould then be replaced.<\/p>\n
\"If the dictator fails, we could kill him (or her),\" Parakitri
\nquipped.<\/p>\n
Another speaker at the seminar was legal expert Bambang
\nWidjojanto who, while not expressing direct support for the
\nMachiavellian idea, did lament that elements of the New Order
\nregime were still playing a role in President Abdurrahman Wahid's
\ngovernment.<\/p>\n
\"People of former president Soeharto are still involved in
\ninstitutions set up by Gus Dur,\" Bambang, who is also chairman of
\nthe Foundation of the Indonesian Legal Aid Institute (YLBHI),
\nsaid, referring to Abdurrahman by his nickname.<\/p>\n
He also criticized Abdurrahman for trying to centralize his
\npower by suggesting his personnel aides be appointed to
\ninfluential institutions.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman mentioned on Tuesday several people whom he would
\npropose be appointed to state institutions in a bid to weed out
\ncorruption.<\/p>\n
Bambang said that while the record of these people were
\nunquestionable, it should not be necessary for the President to
\nrecommend such people as they eventually could be considered his
\ncronies.<\/p>\n
They are all good people, but if the President lauds and
\nappoints them in such a way they might end up worshiping the
\nPresident, he remarked.<\/p>\n
Bambang instead suggested that the government make every
\neffort to revitalize the overall system by improving such things
\nas the Supreme Court, rather than establishing more institutions
\nsuch as the National Commission on Law or naming an ombudsman.
\n(jun)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/indonesia-needs-a-dictator-for-two-years-observer-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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