Legislator say youth leaders lack idealism<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Many of today's youth leaders lack the idealism
\nand independence normally expected of them. Their only concern is
\nworking their way to the top and into positions of power,
\nlegislator Matori Abdul Djalil says.<\/p>\n
The organizations they lead have become mere vehicles, or
\n\"easy tickets\", to higher political positions, Matori, a member
\nof the United Development Party (PPP) faction in the House of
\nRepresentatives said Monday.<\/p>\n
This is reflected in the fierce competition for the top
\npositions in many youth organizations, he said.<\/p>\n
Because of their obsession with political positions, they are
\nwilling to give up their independence, he said at a discussion on
\nthe role of youth in the democratization process. \"They are
\nvirtually chaining themselves. And that's deplorable,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The one-day discussion, organized by the Union of Indonesian
\nCatholic Students (PMKRI), was also attended by Tjahjo Kumolo,
\none-time chairman of the Indonesian National Youth Committee
\n(KNPI) and now a member of the House of Representatives
\nrepresenting Golkar.<\/p>\n
Many youth organizations, which commanded influence and power
\nin the 1960s and 1970s, have been criticized for their failure to
\ntruly represent the aspirations of their constituents and their
\nlack of independence from the government.<\/p>\n
Criticism grew louder last month when the KNPI, an umbrella
\ngroup for dozens of youth organizations, held a congress to elect
\nnew leaders. PMKRI distanced itself from the KNPI by staying away
\nfrom the congress, although it is a member.<\/p>\n
Matori blamed the declining effectiveness of youth
\norganizations on the high concentration of political power in the
\ngovernment.<\/p>\n
The condition limits room for political participation by the
\npeople, including youth organizations, he said.<\/p>\n
Consequently these groups have become mere vehicles for their
\nleaders to break into the closely-knit political system. \"There
\nare virtually no other channels for participation,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Non-governmental organizations, which have been flourishing in
\nrecent years, were at one time considered the new alternative for
\nyouth, but even these are now being shut out, Matori said.<\/p>\n
\"With the government declaring that some NGOs are problematic,
\nyouth have lost this channel,\" he said, referring to the
\ngovernment's recent announcement that it was investigating the
\nactivities of some of the more critical NGOs.<\/p>\n
This condition is creating frustration among youth groups
\nbecause they lose self-esteem and confidence, Matori said.<\/p>\n
Tjahjo, who chaired the KNPI between 1990 and 1993, lamented
\nthe limited participation of the people in the political process.<\/p>\n
Participation is crucial in determining the composition of the
\nnational leadership. \"Without widespread participation, we will
\nall lose,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He agreed the high concentration of political power was bad
\nfor Indonesia, to the point where \"to be different is considered
\ntaboo.\"<\/p>\n
Tjahjo said any change to the system could only come from
\nyoung people. \"They have to be in the front line,\" he said. (03)<\/p>",
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