Power centralization curbs democracy: Scholar<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The government's favoring of the strongest
\npolitical and economic groups seriously hampers democratization
\nin Indonesia, a scholar said Thursday.<\/p>\n
Riswandha Imawan of Yogyakarta's Gadjah Mada University said
\nat the launch of a book published by the National Brotherhood
\nFoundation (YKPK) that the government's partiality was a
\nmisinterpretation of the unitary state principle inherited from
\nthe country's founding fathers.<\/p>\n
He was referring to the concept introduced by Soepomo more
\nthan 50 years ago, which suggests the state stand above all
\ngroups.<\/p>\n
"It's obvious, however, that the state has integrated itself
\nwith the largest political group Golkar and the strongest group,
\nthe armed forces. Business heavyweights later join the alliance,
\nonly to let collusion or corruption grow," he said.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian bureaucracy and the armed forces are the two
\nmajor groups which lend their support to Golkar to win general
\nelections. Members of the armed forces do not vote, but their
\nfamilies and retired officers are obliged to vote for Golkar.<\/p>\n
Riswandha was reviewing the book titled Reformation which
\ncompiles several papers presented by public figures, including
\nMoslem leader Abdurrahman Wahid, economist Kwik Kian Gie and
\npolitical analyst Marzuki Darusman, in a discussion which marked
\nthe inauguration of the YKPK in January last year in Surabaya.<\/p>\n
The YKPK groups retired armed forces top brass and key figures
\nfrom different political organizations. Lt. Gen. (ret.) Bambang
\nTriantoro, former chief of the Armed Forces sociopolitical
\naffairs, and deputy chairman of the United Development Party,
\nMatori Abdul Jalil, are chairman and secretary-general of the
\nYKPK.<\/p>\n
Over 300 people packed the Hilton Golden Ball Room at the
\nlaunch which featured a talk show hosted by columnist Wimar
\nWitoelar. Ousted Indonesian Democratic Party leader Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri and her supporters were present and it was obvious
\nthat several attendees could not avoid supporting her in the
\ndiscussion.<\/p>\n
Former House Speaker Let. Gen. (ret.) M. Kharis Suhud,
\ngovernment critic Ali Sadikin, National Commission on Human
\nRights member Maj. Gen. (ret.) Samsudin, deputy chairman of the
\nIndependent Election Monitoring Committee Mulyana W. Kusumah and
\nsoothsayer Permadi were also present.<\/p>\n
Riswandha said the very strong state had seized the people's
\nfreedom and tended to cause suspicion of the emergence of non-
\ngovernment organizations.<\/p>\n
"They (state officials) beef up antagonistic ways of thinking
\nby polarizing people into the right wing and left wing or the Old
\nOrder and New Order," Riswandha said.<\/p>\n
"This shows that the country's political elite lack the skills
\nto manage conflict among people, which has brought about the
\ncontinuing riots," he said.<\/p>\n
Riswandha said people were doubtful about political openness
\nintroduced by the government early in 1990s, suspecting that the
\nloosening posture aimed only to sort out opposing groups.<\/p>\n
He said officials should talk more, instead of threats or
\nforce, to settle disputes "particularly in the coming 21st
\ncentury, when the demand for democracy will be unavoidable."<\/p>\n
"I'm also afraid that Indonesians will compete in the next
\ncentury's free trade era while their nationalism is fading," he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
"Many officials call for people to use local products, but
\nthey themselves do not use them."<\/p>\n
The book contains criticism of the government which during the
\nfirst 25 years of its development program has set an impressive
\nrecord but failed to respond to a changing society.<\/p>\n
"The New Order, which was born with its concepts of
\nreformation, seems to have lost its direction. It needs to settle
\nfundamental problems which are national unity, social justice and
\ndemocracy," the book's foreword says.<\/p>\n
The YKPK says in its book that democratic principles have been
\ncontaminated by the power holders who fully use constitutional
\nprocedures to stay in power. (amd)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/power-centralization-curbs-democracy-scholar-1447893297",
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