Social scientists ask to be included in future planning<\/p>\n
By Dwi Atmanta<\/p>\n
MEDAN, North Sumatra (JP): Indonesian social scientists called
\non the government to pay greater attention to social factors when
\nforming future development programs.<\/p>\n
The scientists said Saturday they could help facilitate
\ndevelopment while minimizing social costs by carrying out social
\ncost analyses and environmental impact assessments for the
\ngovernment.<\/p>\n
Wrapping up their four-day congress and seminar, the social
\nscientists said that early warning methods needed to be devised
\nto detect potential social problems.<\/p>\n
Azis Saleh, a member of the seminar's steering committee, told
\nThe Jakarta Post that professionalism in social sciences requires
\nan ability to develop methods to predict and settle social
\ndisturbances.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Association of Social Sciences Development
\nagreed at the conclusion of its congress to assign Azis, who is a
\nprofessor of sociology at Andalas University in Padang, West
\nSumatra, and several colleagues to draw up detailed
\nrecommendations. The other scientists were the association's new
\nchairman, Mulyanto Sumardi, and his predecessor, Alwi Dahlan,
\nUsman Pelly and Amru Nasution, both from Sumatra Utara University
\nhere.<\/p>\n
The recommendations will be submitted to the government and
\nother institutions before the Broad Guidelines of State Policies
\nare drafted by the People's Consultative Assembly in March next
\nyear.<\/p>\n
Azis admitted that the congress was to some extent responding
\nto President Soeharto's criticism of the scientists when he
\nopened the gathering on Tuesday. Soeharto accused social
\nscientists of issuing what he called unsubstantiated, hasty
\nanalyses. They were also criticized for not coming up with
\nanalyses that could help prevent social problems.<\/p>\n
Azis accepted the rap, but said that social scientists had
\nprepared \"anticipatory analyses which could be right but are not
\nyet scientifically complete enough to determine the roots of the
\nsocial problems.\"<\/p>\n
\"Many causes are behind social problems. Hence, we need an
\ninterdisciplinary analysis,\" he said, citing a series of ethnic
\nand sectarian conflicts believed to be triggered by socioeconomic
\ndisparities.<\/p>\n
Azis believed that the riots were the consequences of
\ndevelopment overlooked by the government. \"This is why it's
\nimportant to involve social scientists when making decisions for
\ndevelopment programs,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He admitted, however, that Indonesia still lacked quality
\nsocial scientists willing to dedicate themselves to research. The
\ncountry only has between 80 and 100 senior social researchers
\nholding Ph.Ds.<\/p>\n
\"Not many of them have time to concentrate on social research
\ndue to other organizational commitments and administrative jobs,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
Bureaucracy<\/p>\n
The association also suggested that steps be taken to improve
\nthe skills, ethics and morality of the country's civil servants.<\/p>\n
\"Professional bureaucrats should have a code of conduct,\" Azis
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Minister of Development Planning Ginandjar Kartasasmita
\nadmitted here Friday that Indonesia's bureaucrats lack
\nprofessionalism, the right mentality and attitude to serve the
\npublic.<\/p>\n
Civil servants have also been criticized for being
\ninefficient, corrupt and partial to the dominant political group,
\nGolkar.<\/p>\n
Azis said government bureaucrats should share the blame for
\nthe recent riots because of their failure to deal with the public
\nappropriately.<\/p>\n
\"Instead of acting as public servants, many bureaucrats are
\nfond of using threats, which can offend the public,\" Azis said.<\/p>\n
When people criticized them, the bureaucrats became easily
\nupset and forgot that it was their lack of leadership skills that
\nprompted the criticism in the first place, he said.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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