Prevention key to public order<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): It is no exaggeration to suggest that the
\nsecurity issue prior to and during the General Session of the
\nPeople's Consultative Assembly (MPR) next month demands special
\nattention both from the government and the public.<\/p>\n
No one can deny that the economic crisis could spill over into
\npolitical upheaval if the government does not take anticipatory
\nmeasures to deal with problems such as rising unemployment,
\nskyrocketing prices of basic necessities, inflation and high
\ninterest rates.<\/p>\n
The government itself has warned the public that there might
\nbe provocation by certain groups spreading unfounded rumors in
\norder to disrupt political stability.<\/p>\n
Judging from a spate of political violence that has rocked the
\ncountry in recent years, it can be safely concluded that under
\nthe pressures of economic crisis and social injustice, people
\nwith low incomes in urban areas tend to seek recourse using
\nviolent means to express their frustrations and pent-up emotion.<\/p>\n
There is a well-grounded suggestion that the security
\nauthorities must improve their preventive measures in dealing
\nwith security problems.<\/p>\n
If security officials only act after violence breaks out there
\nis a danger that people might question their seriousness in
\ncurbing criminal actions. On top of that, victims of mass riots
\nwill question the impartiality of the security system in general.<\/p>\n
Interethnic conflict has always spilled over into riots.<\/p>\n
It should be admitted that so far the government has done
\nenough to put an end to the social, political and economic gap
\nbetween wealthy Indonesians of Chinese origin, who are dominant
\nin economic activities, on one side, and the relatively poor
\nindigenous, on the other.<\/p>\n
Courses on state ideology both through formal and informal
\nchannels have seemed to be ineffective and in some cases even
\ncounterproductive for eliminating this latent conflict.<\/p>\n
Ethnic-colored conflict is widely believed to be deeply
\nembedded in the whole structure of Indonesian social and economic
\nsystems since the colonial period. As such it can only be dealt
\nwith through a fundamental change in government economic
\npolicies.<\/p>\n
The government does have the capacity and opportunity to
\nimprove interethnic relations.<\/p>\n
There ought to be a strong political commitment to put an end
\nto all practices of "quid pro quo" collaboration and collusion
\nbetween tycoons of Chinese origin and the ruling elite.<\/p>\n
It is high time now to support the weakest segments of the
\nsociety so that they might be able to cope with the economic
\ncrisis.<\/p>\n
The government may take the following steps in anticipating
\nthe outbreak of social unrest.<\/p>\n
First, in addition to the IMF-sponsored package the government
\nshould consistently implement labor-intensive projects in order
\nto create jobs. It is also necessary to convince the public that
\nthe whole nation would share the burden of structural adjustments
\nin the economy in a fair and just manner.<\/p>\n
Second, security authorities, especially at the local level,
\nshould take initiatives in conducting dialogs with prominent
\nfigures and religious leaders in order to encourage their
\ncooperation in preventing the outbreak of social unrest.<\/p>\n
Religious leaders can use their influence to convince
\ntheir respective congregations that no religion would ever
\njustify the use of violent means in solving social and economic
\nproblems.<\/p>\n
Third, in times of economic troubles a government's
\ncredibility can easily be eroded. There is, however, an effective
\nway for such erosion to be prevented.<\/p>\n
The people have been waiting for real government action to
\ncurb corruption and collusion within bureaucracies. The people
\nwill be highly appreciative if the government can show its
\nboldness in putting an end to all those illegal practices. The
\naim of such action is not only to appease the people but also to
\nincrease the efficiency of the national economy.<\/p>\n
Fourth, the government should be prudent in handling security
\nproblems. Security officials are expected to deal with problems
\nin a more elegant way. Making politics the scapegoat may even be
\nviewed as a failure in addressing the root of the crisis.<\/p>\n
Too much suspicion only creates panic and it could even lead
\nto a much more explosive situation. Therefore, persuasive methods
\nwill be more effective than repressive ones in maintaining
\npolitical stability.<\/p>\n
There is a wide perception that meetings of the MPR's ad hoc
\ncommittees since October last year have ignored issues related to
\nthe crisis. They have been so preoccupied with predetermined
\npolitical agendas with the effect that they have had no time to
\ndiscuss the possible way out of the crisis from the perspective
\nof people's interests.<\/p>\n
Let us hope that the MPR members display more sensitivity
\ntoward the aspirations of the people in order to bolster their
\ninterests in politics.<\/p>\n
Such an act could stimulate people's participation in
\nmaintaining public order and security during the MPR's general
\nsession next month.<\/p>\n
The writer is a lecturer at the School of International
\nRelations, Parahyangan Catholic University, Bandung, and a
\nresearcher at the Parahyangan Center for International
\nStudies, at the same university.<\/p>",
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