Still along way to go to civil society: Lecturer<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Economic crisis has prompted the establishment
\nof professional organizations but whether or not they will help
\nspurred civil society is questionable, says a university
\nlecturer.<\/p>\n
"The mock up drawing of a civil society is there but whether
\nit will eventually emerge is not certain yet," said A.
\nPrasetyantoko of Atma Jaya university in a book launching
\ndiscussion here Tuesday.<\/p>\n
The discussion, held at the same university, launched two
\nbooks: Professionals Versus the New Order Regime, by
\nPrasetyantoko and Anti-violence Politics Post 1999 Elections by
\nEmanuel Subangun.<\/p>\n
Prasetyantoko said numerous organizations had sprouted up
\nafter president Soeharto fell from grace last year like
\nProfessional Society for Democracy (MPD), Professional Solidarity
\nfor Reformation (SPUR), Jakarta University Graduates Movement
\n(GSJ), Thursday Night Club and Indonesian Professional Alliance
\n(APPI).<\/p>\n
These professional groupings, he said, had two basic problems,
\none weak organization fundamentals and second their relatively
\nless populist character due to its overly individual
\ncharacteristics.<\/p>\n
He said these organizations came to the fore due to similar
\ntraits of their members such as higher education, familiarity to
\ninformation technology and their activist background during their
\nstudent days.<\/p>\n
These common background, he said, coupled with the economic
\ncrisis, the declining process of the New Order government and the
\nemergence of people power were crucial factors behind the birth
\nof the organizations.<\/p>\n
The agony behind this phenomenon is the non-existence of an
\nindependent middle-class in Indonesia, he said.<\/p>\n
Prasetyantoko cited the extremely long period of Dutch
\ncolonialization in Indonesia as one reason. The other being the
\nfar too fast process of industrialization in a vastly
\nauthoritarian government.<\/p>\n
The two main pillars of democracy: the press and the
\nuniversity are the "extra-state" forces which somehow managed to
\nkeep a distance with the culture dictated by the state, he said.<\/p>\n
The ideal picture, Prasetyantoko said, would be to see these
\ntwo pillars being supported by the professionals, businessmen,
\nand investors who champion ethical norms and who possess
\nbargaining power vis a vis the government through their
\nrespective organizations.<\/p>\n
He said the New Order possessed characteristics like,
\nmilitarism which employed terror to achieve stability, hegemony
\nover all elements of the society, and patron-client approach
\nwhere private sectors subsidize the power.<\/p>\n
In this condition market-driven economy could not perform and
\ninitiate an artificial capitalism. In a crisis, the above
\ncharacteristic would aggravate the situation.<\/p>\n
"And worse, the reformation is executed by uncredible and
\nillegitimate government," he said.<\/p>\n
Emmanuel Subangun said that the students' role in the era of
\nreform faced three challenges: their ability to think,
\nparticipate in organization, and see the "intangible" things.<\/p>\n
The tangible things, like civilian security, anti-riot troops,
\nweapons, he said, were relatively more simple than the unseen.<\/p>\n
The intangible things were the result of long time struggle
\nbetween democracy and the political elite which started from the
\n1960s when the New Order began their rule up to Soeharto's
\ndownfall.<\/p>\n
Only by having a good grasp these complex process will the
\nstudents with their battle against the status quo forces, he
\nsaid. (06)<\/p>",
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