New approach urged on East Timor<\/p>\n
East Timor Bishop Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo made headlines
\nlast week after a German magazine published his interview which
\nallegedly putting Indonesia in a bad light. Sociologist Sardjono
\nJatiman looks at the issue from a wider context.<\/p>\n
Question: Bishop Belo's alleged critical remarks in Der
\nSpiegel magazine have caused an uproar, your comments?<\/p>\n
Answer: I think it's normal. When unpleasant things about your
\ncountry is exposed in another country, you will react that way.
\nIt does not only happen to Indonesians. People from other
\ncountries will also react in the same way under equal
\ncircumstances. If they do not, something must be wrong.<\/p>\n
The problem is, the issue itself is not clear yet. I myself
\nhave not yet read the article, nor most of those which condemned
\nthe bishop, I suppose. That's why, regardless of whether the
\nremarks are true or not, I am afraid the angry response is
\ninfluenced more by relentless media exposure than by the remarks
\nthemselves.<\/p>\n
Such a reaction manifested itself on previous issues such as
\nthat concerning (Supreme Court justice) Adi Andojo, the Situbondo
\nincident (mass riot), the assassination of a journalist in
\nYogyakarta, the death of a criminal suspect in a police precinct,
\netc. You name it. So, what I see here is that there is an
\nawareness among our citizens that something is not right and
\ntherefore something has to be done about it.<\/p>\n
Q: There is now a tendency for people to be easily incited, be
\nswift in judging others and they tend to do it in unison. What do
\nyou think about that?<\/p>\n
A: When there is public uproar, what we have to do is find the
\nexplanation based on each level of the community who react. For
\nexample, what is the reaction of the intellectuals, politicians,
\nwhat are the youth thinking, what about those of other groups in
\nsociety, etc.?<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, here I cannot make such an explanation. We do
\nnot have the data. What I find is only news in the papers. Every
\nstatement I read or hear from printed or electronic media is
\nalways preceded by a sentence such as: \"We will see later ...\" or
\n\"If it is true...\". There is no convincing statement.<\/p>\n
Q: There are those who say we are losing our debating culture.
\nIs it true?<\/p>\n
A: Did we ever have that culture? A feudalistic community
\nnever allows any difference in opinion. In the Javanese
\ncommunity, with its feudalistic structure, the young are always
\ntold to agree with their elders. There can be no difference in
\nopinion between a superior and a subordinate, or even between a
\nteacher and student, etc. Differences in opinion might occur only
\nin a more elite community. For example, when our founding fathers
\nwere debating the drafting of our constitutions.<\/p>\n
Q: Does this theory explain the tendency of people reacting
\nthe same way to a certain issue?<\/p>\n
A: We have what we call a silent mass. They do have their own
\nopinion, but they do not voice it. So, what seems to be the
\npublic's opinion at one time does not always reflect the reality.
\nIt is a common thing. Above all, we have these media, both
\nprinted and electronic, which often makes a person's opinion look
\nlike most people's.<\/p>\n
Q: Talking about difference of opinion, isn't it considered
\ncommon to have it in a country like Indonesia which claims to be
\na democracy?<\/p>\n
A: Yes, of course. Every democratic country should recognize
\ndifference of opinion. What makes it different is the way you
\nstate it. We have a certain norm to do it. Of course you may
\nargue with your parents, but you can state your argument in a
\npolite way, in a way that does not hurt them.<\/p>\n
I think, it is not the difference of opinion that matters, but
\nthe way we act to bridge the difference. Most people in Indonesia
\ndo not have the capability of dealing with such a difference. So,
\nthere is a tendency to consider differences as dislike. We also
\nfail to differentiate the person from what he says. In the
\ncontext of democracy, there is no need to have such a thing.
\nEvery person has his or her own opinion which we should
\nappreciate. Whether or not we agree with it is a different
\nmatter.<\/p>\n
Q: In Bishop Belo's case, what do you think we should do?<\/p>\n
A: Cool down. We have to be able to think about it with a cool
\nhead. Let's see the problem more clearly, for it is also possible
\nthat the people's reaction right now is an accumulation of
\nprevious events. So, do not look at it as an isolated problem.<\/p>\n
It's been a long time since East Timor was integrated into
\nIndonesia. Yet there are still problems to solve. Here we
\nprobably have to pay more attention to micro-problems as well.
\nAre we applying an appropriate approach in developing that
\nprovince? It is true there has been enormous physical development
\nthere, but it is not the most important aspect of development.
\nThere are also many important aspects beyond that, especially the
\ncultural one.<\/p>\n
I think it's about time for the government to handle problems
\nthat have caused cultural shocks. Not only in East Timor, but in
\nother provinces as well. Nipah or Kedungombo cases are some
\nexamples. So, every development has to be seen not only from an
\neconomical point of view but also from sociocultural ones. This
\nshould be designed right from the beginning by experienced
\nprofessionals, not amateurs.<\/p>\n
Q: What if the result of the review and the discussion on East
\nTimor is to give up the province?<\/p>\n
A: Oh... no, we have to start with a commitment that East
\nTimor is part of us, part of Indonesia. Do not ever consider it
\nanything else. We have to treat the development issue in the
\nprovince as our internal affair. Therefore, we will not let
\nanyone else or any other country interfere. (swa)<\/p>\n
Dr. Sardjono Jatiman is a senior lecturer in sociology at
\nUniversity of Indonesia.<\/p>",
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