Observers attack Clinton's list on unndemocratic states<\/p>\n
SEMARANG (JP): The one-sided list of less-democratic countries
\nin Asia which was announced recently by the United States
\nPresident Bill Clinton was criticized yesterday by observers.<\/p>\n
A member of the National Commission on Human Rights, Muladi,
\nlabeled the list as a violation of human rights but a blessing in
\ndisguise for Indonesia.<\/p>\n
"By announcing such a list, the U.S. has shown its arrogance
\nbecause human rights standards in developing countries and in
\ndeveloped ones cannot be compared," said Muladi, who is also
\nrector of the state-owned Diponegoro University here.<\/p>\n
The International Herald Tribune printed last Thursday the
\ncontroversial list which classified all but two Southeast Asian
\ncountries as undemocratic. Thailand and the Philippines were the
\nregion's only winners, being classified as countries which were
\nbecoming democratic along with South Korea, Hong Kong and Taiwan.<\/p>\n
Western observers believe that Clinton, who will be officially
\nsworn in as the U.S. President for a second term on Jan. 20, will
\ncampaign more actively for human rights as part of his foreign
\npolicy.<\/p>\n
Muladi said democracy was relative, so that one country could
\nnot force its version on another.<\/p>\n
But he suggested that Indonesia accept the U.S. listing with
\nan open heart and look at how democratic principles were
\nimplemented here.<\/p>\n
The chairman of the Nahdlatul Ulama Moslem group, Abdurrahman
\nWahid, played down Clinton's list separately yesterday, saying
\nthat it had nothing to do with the development of democracy in
\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n
"Take it easy. It's more important for us to launch continuous
\nefforts to improve democracy regardless of external pressures,"
\nsaid Abdurrachman, better known as Gus Dur.<\/p>\n
The quality of a country's democracy relied solely on its
\npeople, he said. Democracy required several conditions: the rule
\nof law and a government which is open, trustworthy and
\nresponsible.<\/p>\n
"If these two principles work well, we can call a country
\ndemocratic," he said.<\/p>\n
Muladi, Abdurrahman and several political observers gathered
\nhere at the invitation of Jaya Suprana, a renowned musician and
\ncultural expert, who celebrated the 80th birthday of his father
\nLambang Suprana yesterday.<\/p>\n
Another observer, Dawam Raharjo, said the U.S. had no right to
\njudge other countries' democracy. "Clinton has failed to see that
\nAmericans themselves are struggling for democracy," Dawam said.<\/p>\n
He predicted that the U.S. was unlikely to use the list to
\npressure Indonesia. "It was just Clinton's political statement,"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
But sociologist and outspoken critic Arief Budiman hailed
\nClinton's list, saying it suited Indonesia.<\/p>\n
"Frankly speaking, democracy in Indonesia only lives in
\ndiscussions; it has yet to turn into deeds," Arief said.<\/p>\n
He argued that the list was scientifically reliable because
\nthe U.S. government had involved a lot of developing-country
\nspecialists. "There are many American scientists who know
\nIndonesia well," he said. (har\/amd)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/observers-attack-clintons-list-on-unndemocratic-states-1447893297",
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