No clear concept of democracy, seminar told<\/p>\n
YOGYAKARTA (JP): Indonesia has no clear concept on what sort
\nof democracy and political system it is pursuing, a respected
\nscholar told a seminar yesterday.<\/p>\n
All discussions on politics and democracy in Indonesia almost
\nalways culminate in the glorification of the state ideology,
\nPancasila, but the essence is vague, Nasikun, a political scholar
\nfrom Gadjah Mada University, said.<\/p>\n
\"For example, it is never clear if we are pursuing the
\nliberal, individual democracy, or socialist democracy. Nor is it
\never clear on which political context the issue of freedom of
\nexpression is put,\" he said in the seminar on freedom of
\nexpression and freedom of assembly, held at Atmajaya Catholic
\nUniversity.<\/p>\n
According to Nasikun, Indonesia already adopts both liberal
\nand socialist democracies, at the same time. The liberal is
\napplied in the economic practices and socialist in the political
\npractices.<\/p>\n
Bureaucrats generally insist that the so called \"Pancasila
\ndemocracy\" is a specifically Indonesian middle-way democracy,
\nwhich is neither liberal nor socialist.<\/p>\n
Pancasila is made up of five tenets: Belief in God; national
\nunity; consensus through deliberation; humanism; and social
\njustice.<\/p>\n
\"To be honest, we Indonesians don't all have a clear picture
\non what type of political system and democracy we are pursuing,\"
\nNasikun said.<\/p>\n
In addition to the vague concept of democracy and politics,
\nNasikun said, Indonesians, generally, do not yet have the
\nqualities vital for democracy to take hold. Indonesians in
\ngeneral lack a critical, rational way of thinking.<\/p>\n
\"People generally cannot tell which concern personal, from
\npublic interests. They have a somewhat less rational view about
\nthe functions of political organizations,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"To be able to flourish, democracy needs qualities like open
\nmindedness and flexible attitudes in the people of the
\ncommunity,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Sutandyo Wignjosoebroto, a member of the National Commission
\non Human Rights, and a lecturer at Surabaya's Erlangga
\nUniversity, discussed how the 1945 Constitution relates to human
\nrights.<\/p>\n
Sutandyo pointed out that the Indonesian constitution
\naddresses little on human rights, especially as far as political
\nfreedom is concerned.<\/p>\n
The constitution, he said, addresses more on citizens' rights,
\nwhich do not need its absolute guarantee but enough to be
\nregulated by lower laws.<\/p>\n
\"The 1945 Constitution does not discuss rights which are
\nintrinsic to human beings but rights that citizens have due to
\ntheir status,\" he said.<\/p>\n
In other words, he said, the constitution does not vigorously
\nput human rights as a top priority. \"It gives the impression that
\nthe constitution means to limit citizens' basic rights,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"And not only that, the constitution also means to stress that
\ncitizens are confined to numerous social obligations, which will
\nhave to be specified in lower-level laws,\" he added.<\/p>\n
The one-day seminar also featured Roekmini Koesoemo Astoeti, a
\nmember of the human rights commission; Ashadi Siregar, a lecturer
\nof social-political affairs from Gadjah Mada University; and Emha
\nAinun Nadjib, a well-known cultural observer. (har\/pan)<\/p>",
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