Reconciliation crucial for Indonesia, says sociologist<\/p>\n
SEMARANG (JP): Reconciliation is crucial for the nation to
\nrebuild trust among its people, political observer Daniel
\nSparingga said on Saturday.<\/p>\n
\"Everybody must be assured that the ideal to help build a
\nbetter life for people in the country, including the next
\ngeneration, can be fulfilled,\" Daniel, a sociologist of Surabaya-
\nbased Airlangga University, said.<\/p>\n
He said reconciliation would be the best formula for the
\ncurrent government to bring prosperity to its people should the
\npast stand between people and the goal.<\/p>\n
\"Despite the uncertainty, people are becoming more and more
\nconfident that democracy can lead the country to be a wealthy
\nstate,\" Daniel told a seminar at the fourth Rectors' Forum
\nmeeting here.<\/p>\n
He said the difficult situation emerged because the country
\nfailed to properly address the problems generated from the past.<\/p>\n
\"The endless argument and our inability to find the best
\nformula to get rid of the old problems relating to human rights
\nmake all the efforts to face the future challenges useless,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Daniel first voiced his reconciliation idea in Surabaya in
\nFebruary.<\/p>\n
He said Indonesia could make South Africa, with its truth and
\nreconciliation commission, its model on how to deal with past
\nmistakes inherited by the previous regime.<\/p>\n
\"We are obliged to support the concept. President Abdurrahman
\nWahid alone is not able to handle all the problems. A positive
\nresponse from the leaders, including the House of Representatives
\n(DPR) and the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) speakers and
\nthe people are needed,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The other speaker at the seminar, Satjipto Rahardjo, agreed to
\nthe reconciliation plan.<\/p>\n
Satjipto, a member of the National Commission on Human Rights,
\nsaid reconciliation would be the way out for the nation to
\nchannel sociopolitical demands which had piled up for years.<\/p>\n
\"With a good reconciliation concept, cases which are still
\npossible to be settled legally would be brought to court. (But)
\nenigmatic problems would be dealt with by the commission,\"
\nSatjipto, who is also a professor at the Diponegoro University in
\nSemarang, said.<\/p>\n
The Rectors' Forum meeting wrapped up on Saturday with
\nparticipants declaring their support for national integration.<\/p>\n
In their statement, they agreed to optimize the role of state
\nand private universities in enhancing national integration.<\/p>\n
The Forum also demanded that the government improve the
\nquality of national education and allocate sufficient funds in
\nthe state budget to improve national education. (har\/sur)<\/p>",
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