No change in govt approach to stability, says historian<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A senior historian said yesterday the government
\nhas not made any significant changes in its staunch approach
\ntoward stability in 52 years of independence.<\/p>\n
Ong Hok Ham of the National Institute of Science said at a
\nseminar held by the Center for Political Studies and Public
\nAdvocacy that the current debate pitting stability against
\nreformation of the politically elite was inherited from the past.<\/p>\n
\"Classic disputes between stability and reformation also
\noccurred in the past, although the players differed from those of
\ntoday,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Ong was referring to Australian political scientist Herbert
\nFeith's observation that the Indonesian elite under Sukarno were
\ndivided into solidarity-making groups and problem-solving groups.<\/p>\n
Ong said president Sukarno typified solidarity makers who
\npushed for solidarity for the sake of national stability. The
\ngroup believed that the Indonesian revolution had yet to finish,
\nand therefore national stability was endangered.<\/p>\n
The other group, led by former vice president Mohammad Hatta
\nand former prime minister Sutan Sjahrir, opposed Sukarno, saying
\nthat Indonesia should make development and democracy its top
\npriorities.<\/p>\n
Ong noted that the government was not at all lenient toward
\nopposition.<\/p>\n
\"Government's policy toward opposition has become extra tough
\nnow. Any opposition, even though it does not lead to a coup
\nd'etat, is always considered serious now,\" Ong said.<\/p>\n
Another speaker at the seminar, Hermawan Sulistyo, said
\npolitical freedom in the country has been restricted by the
\nfloating mass policy which was introduced prior to the 1977
\ngeneral election.<\/p>\n
The policy bans political organizations from districts and
\nlower administrative levels.<\/p>\n
It has drawn criticism because it favors the bureaucracy-
\nsupported Golkar faction, with the fact that all heads of
\ndistricts and subdistricts are included in the bureaucracy.<\/p>\n
Hermawan said the depolitization process remained in force
\nbecause some key figures in the country's politically elite group
\nsuffered \"old wounds\" caused by the mass violence triggered by
\nthe abortive coup attempt, blamed on the now defunct Indonesian
\nCommunist Party, in 1965.<\/p>\n
\"After 30 years, the trauma has not faded because figures of
\nthat generation are still here playing pivotal roles in the
\ndecision-making process,\" said Hermawan, also from the National
\nInstitute of Science. (14\/amd)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/no-change-in-govt-approach-to-stability-says-historian-1447893297",
"image": ""
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