Nation 'must learn to respect differences'<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The nation must learn to respect ethnic and
\npolitical differences, including the establishment of new
\npolitical parties, if it wishes to build a true democratic
\nsociety, observers say.<\/p>\n
Referring to the growth of new political parties, many with
\nreligious or ethnic sectarian inclinations, former legislator
\nSabam Sirait and social observer Franz Magnis Suseno of the
\nDriyarkara School of Philosophy argued that the phenomenon was
\npolitically beneficial.<\/p>\n
\"What's important now is that people should be able to
\ntolerate differences,\" Sabam, a member of the Indonesian
\nDemocratic Party, said during a discussion here Saturday.<\/p>\n
Sabam warned against repeating mistakes of the past regime
\nunder former president Soeharto, during which differences were
\nnot tolerated.<\/p>\n
\"We cannot just ban this and that, like the former
\nadministration,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Sabam, however, reminded all parties to firmly uphold
\ndemocratic principles, which in essence allows countering views
\nto be held.<\/p>\n
The establishment of several religious and ethnic-based
\nparties has renewed fears of a possible return to sectarian
\npolitics which many believe could undermine national unity.<\/p>\n
The new political climate of openness which has developed in
\nthe past month has seen the growth of new political parties,
\nincluding ones which have adopted religious or ethnic
\naffiliations.<\/p>\n
Founders of the Islamic Community Party, established Friday,
\neffectively said that the party would be meant primarily for
\nMoslems.<\/p>\n
The Chinese Indonesian Reform Party, while asserting that it
\nwas open to all, surprised many from its use of the term
\nTionghoa, Chinese, in its name. The use of the word for a
\npolitical institution was previously unheard of.<\/p>\n
Franz said the establishment of such parties was merely a
\nreaction to the 32 years of political oppression under Soeharto's
\nregime.<\/p>\n
\"Let people express their aspirations. We'd better leave the
\nsurvival of these political parties up to the voters in the
\ngeneral election,\" Franz argued.<\/p>\n
He pointed out that the sectarian nature of the parties was
\nalso a reflection of the country's diverse nature, and that it
\ncould also be viewed as an expression of people's identity.<\/p>\n
During Soeharto's reign, issues touching on tribal
\naffiliations, religion, race and societal groupings, commonly
\nreferred to under the Indonesian acronym of SARA, were usually
\ntaboo subjects for open discussion or debate.<\/p>\n
The prevailing opinion was that such divisive issues
\nthreatened state unity.<\/p>\n
Both Franz and Sabam argued that the nation was far more
\nmature now and trusted that it would not descend into conflict
\nover these particular issues.<\/p>\n
Franz expressed hope that the coming elections, which
\nPresident B.J. Habibie plans to hold in the middle of next year,
\nwould be free and fair.<\/p>\n
\"I hope that the people, for the first time, can vote freely,\"
\nFranz said.<\/p>\n
Sabam questioned whether it was still necessary for the Armed
\nForces (ABRI) to retain its allocated seats in the House of
\nRepresentatives.<\/p>\n
\"Amid the mounting calls for all House members to be chosen
\n(through elections), is it still necessary that we have ABRI
\nrepresentatives in the House?,\" Sabam said.<\/p>\n
Armed Forces personnel do not vote during elections but are
\nallocated 75 seats in the 500-member House.<\/p>\n
Franz, however, felt that the Armed Forces' role could not
\naltogether be terminated in the political arena.<\/p>\n
\"It's true that ideally all House members should be elected.
\nBut I'm just being pragmatic and realistic,\" Franz said, adding
\nthat the Armed Forces should still be represented in the House
\nfor another 15 years. (byg)<\/p>",
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