Nationalism remains strong: CESDA survey<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Nationalism remains strong among the people in
\nthis country, with an enormous number of people preferring to
\nidentify themselves by their nationality rather than their
\nethnicity, according to a results of a survey announced on
\nTuesday.<\/p>\n
The Center for the Study of Development and Democracy (CESDA),
\nin a survey published four days before Indonesia's 56th
\nanniversary, said 67 percent of people interviewed believed
\nnationalism should be the basis of the national ideology.<\/p>\n
Only 9 percent said Indonesia should become a state based on
\nreligion, according to the nationwide survey on \"Indonesian
\nNationalism and Pluralism in the Transition Period\".<\/p>\n
As many as 81 percent of respondents declared their identity
\nas being Indonesian, while only 11 percent preferred to be
\nidentified either by their religion or ethnicity.<\/p>\n
But when questioned further about whether they were proud to
\nbe Indonesian, only 59 percent said they were. Nine percent said
\nthey were ashamed, primarily because of rampant corruption,
\nendless communal conflicts and injustices. Another 30 percent
\nwere indifferent to the question.<\/p>\n
The survey involved 2,970 people in 13 cities. Conducted by
\nmeans of face to face interview between July 9 and 31, the
\nrespondents were above 17 years old and selected in almost equal
\nproportions in terms of the nation's ethnic, religious, education
\nand income backgrounds. It has a 2 percent margin of error and 95
\npercent degree of certainty.<\/p>\n
CESDA, a division of the Institute of Research, Education and
\nInformation of Social and Economic Affairs (LP3ES), said the
\nsurvey was taken against a backdrop of ethnic, religious and
\npolitical conflicts that have plagued the nation for the past
\nfour years and, which it said, could undermine Indonesia's nation
\nbuilding process.<\/p>\n
In spite of the communal nature of many of these conflicts,
\nthe majority of respondents believed that they were provoked by
\nthird parties rather than cultural differences.<\/p>\n
On religious conflicts, 51 percent said they were the work of
\nthird parties, 17 percent blamed economic disparities and 13
\npercent said they were caused by hatred and envy between the
\ndifferent groups. On ethnic conflicts, the proportions were 40
\npercent, 14 percent and 13 percent respectively.<\/p>\n
CESDA head Naning Mardiah said the survey found most
\nIndonesians to be very tolerant of cultural differences.<\/p>\n
Admitting that communal conflicts broke out now and then in
\nsome parts of the country, she said that most Indonesians
\naccepted cultural diversity and believed that differences should
\nbe resolved by peaceful means.<\/p>\n
President Megawati Soekarnoputri, in announcing the new
\nCabinet lineup on Friday, made the maintenance of national unity
\nand territorial integrity, in the face of what she described as
\ndisintegrating forces, the number one priority of her government.<\/p>\n
The majority of respondents, 62 percent, said they objected to
\nallowing Aceh and Irian Jaya, two provinces which have registered
\nrising demands for independence, to go their own ways. Only 16
\npercent said they had no qualms on the issue.<\/p>\n
On East Timor, which voted in 1999 to leave the republic, 63
\npercent of the respondents said Indonesia should remain on
\nfriendly terms with the new independent country.<\/p>\n
In spite of the strong sense of nationalism, 41 percent of
\nrespondents were unsure whether Indonesia could remain intact as
\na nation, with 10 percent even believing that the country would
\nbreak up into smaller states. Only 32 percent believed the
\narchipelagic state would remain as it is today.<\/p>\n
Around 80 percent of the respondents said ethnic, religious
\nand political differences have not affected the unity of the
\nnation. An equal proportion said that cultural differences did
\nnot influence their choice of friends, neighbors and colleagues.<\/p>\n
While professing religious tolerance, the majority of
\nIndonesians, however, do not approve of inter-religious marriages
\nor conversion to other religions among their close relatives.<\/p>\n
As many as 44 percent of respondents said that, in principle,
\nthey accepted inter-religious marriages, but when asked if the
\nissue involved one of their close relatives, 74 percent said they
\nwould object.<\/p>\n
Similarly, 60 percent of respondents said they had no
\nobjection to people changing faiths, but 62 percent objected to
\nsuch a decision being made by close relatives.<\/p>\n
The survey found strong public disdain with the media's
\npolitical coverage, with 80 percent saying the media failed to
\nvoice the people's aspirations. Meanwhile, 54 percent even blamed
\nthe media for aggravating conflicts.<\/p>\n
On the legislature, 58 percent gave a low rating to the
\nelected representatives in fighting for the people's interests.<\/p>\n
As many as 74 percent of the respondents said they wanted a
\ndirect presidential election system and the opportunity for
\nvoters to elect representatives directly through the general
\nelections, instead of the political parties selecting them.
\n(07\/emb)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/nationalism-remains-strong-cesda-survey-1447893297",
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