Real meaning of freedom still persued<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesians must pursue the real meaning of
\nfreedom despite national independence, social and political
\nobservers say.<\/p>\n
Speakers at a weekend seminar, sponsored by the Driyarkara
\nSchool of Philosophy, attempted to answer the \"meaning and
\npromises\" of Indonesian independence proclaimed on Aug. 17, 1945.<\/p>\n
\"When the republic was established, it was a state based on
\nlaw. The founding fathers knew that if the law didn't rule the
\ngame from the beginning, a crisis would ensue because the power
\nof the state would become absolute and fascist,\" Mudji Sutrisno,
\na lecturer at Driyarkara, claimed.<\/p>\n
The nation has granted freedom to the state at the cost of
\nindividuals, he continued.<\/p>\n
\"The Proclamation of Independence challenges us to free
\nourselves as individuals and create a prosperous society,\" Mudji
\nadded.<\/p>\n
He said there has been too much respect for the state and too
\nlittle respect for individuals.<\/p>\n
According to Mudji, collusion between economic and political
\npowers is rife in such situations. \"These people even have the
\ncapability to abuse the law to legitimize their actions.\"<\/p>\n
Daniel Dhakidae, a researcher for the Kompas daily, said the
\ndifference in interests between the country, representing the
\npeople, and the state, representing the government, has resulted
\nin a \"tug of war\" between the two.<\/p>\n
He said that the economy, education, the mass media, political
\nparties and religion have been corralled to serve the state.<\/p>\n
\"There is privatization, but the bureaucracy determines which
\ncompanies must become the country's private companies and which
\nones can become the private company's country,\" he declared.<\/p>\n
Mudji said that the political power's hegemony has stripped
\nthe public's critical conscience as well as its ability to
\ntransform society because no room is left for criticism or
\ncontrol, be it by the mass media or the House of Representatives.<\/p>\n
Several participants at the seminar, which was attended by
\nstudents, activists, freedom fighters and retired government
\nofficials, questioned the role of the judicial and legislative
\nbodies in funneling power to only a few people.<\/p>\n
Albert Hasibuan, lawyer and General Manager of the Suara
\nPembaruan daily, said the People's Consultative Assembly, which
\nis the country's highest law-making body, will continue to fail
\nto supervise the administration if the assembly maintains its
\ntradition of convening once every five years.<\/p>\n
\"An active assembly should meet more often. Its should
\ndetermine its own structure and actions in relation to the
\nimplementation of policy guidelines it has decreed,\" he said.
\n(pwn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/real-meaning-of-freedom-still-persued-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}