Students told to come up with concept of freedom<\/p>\n
BOGOR, West Java (JP): State Minister of Environment Sarwono
\nKusumaatmadja challenged the Indonesian Christian Student
\nMovement yesterday to redefine its identity in anticipation of
\nsocial and political changes.<\/p>\n
\"You will be the country's leaders soon. What concept of
\nfreedom do you intend to live with?\" asked the former student
\nactivist to the members assembled to celebrate the 45th
\nanniversary of the Indonesian Christian Student Movement (GMKI).<\/p>\n
In this age, he said, freedom could mean either a chance to
\ndemand more from the bureaucracy or it could imply an individual
\nright which one possesses and intends to defend.<\/p>\n
If young people choose to defend their freedom, he said, they
\nmust be creative and innovative in seeking ways to achieve their
\ngoals. \"However, if they choose to keep making demands on the
\ngovernment, they will hardly get anywhere.\"<\/p>\n
Sarwono, who says he has spent some 11 years studying at
\nuniversity to devote himself to student council activities,
\nadmitted that the times had changed and that a new generation of
\nyouths had emerged.<\/p>\n
\"In the 1950s universities inherited the 'liberal' education
\nsystem. The motto at the time was buku, pesta, cinta (books,
\nparty, love),\" he said, adding that this gave students ample time
\nto get involved in other activities like student and youth
\nmovements.<\/p>\n
Approaching the rise of the New Order in 1966, he said,
\nstudent movements -- many of which had become factions in the
\npolitical parties -- played an increasingly important role in the
\ncountry's political life.<\/p>\n
Later on, however, the establishment of the credit system in
\nthe 1970s forced students to finish their studies more quickly.
\nThe government's move to rid campuses of political activity began
\nwith the \"normalization of campus life\" concept that bred a
\ncertain apathy among students. Students became indifferent to
\npolitics and lost interest in political organizations.<\/p>\n
\"With the rise of the New Order, the government became an
\nextremely strong institution. Student movements and youth
\norganizations adapted to the government's bureaucratic culture
\nand strongly resembled the government system, in both its
\nformality and style,\" Sarwono said.<\/p>\n
\"Those who joined these 'bureaucratic-like organizations' were
\nalmost sure to go after 'political careers' which would,
\nnaturally, land them somewhere in the bureaucracy,\" Sarwono said.<\/p>\n
The increasing role of the economy, Sarwono said, was also a
\nfactor which distinguished the nature of student movements now
\nfrom those several decades ago.<\/p>\n
\"The generator in the economy is no longer the government but
\nthe private sector. Student movements now imitate 'private
\nculture' and this may well become a new obsession,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said the movements must have strong identities and ideals.
\nThey could easily be dragged into consumerism, he added, which is
\nthe objective of the private sector and characteristic of most of
\nIndonesia's middle class.<\/p>\n
\"This middle class is apathetic to global issues such as those
\nconcerning human rights, democracy and the environment. It is in
\nthat regard that the social responsibility of student movements
\nlike GMKI is tested,\" Sarwono pointed out.<\/p>\n
The next Five Year Development Plan, he said, would determine
\nIndonesia's next economic and political model.<\/p>\n
\"If the wrong kind of people make these decisions, it will
\nendanger the country. Members of student and youth movements can
\nprevent this from happening when they reach the appropriate age,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
Sarwono challenged them to go by their ideals and use their
\nfreedom instead of imitating bureaucratic institutions. They must
\nfind ways to \"outwit\" the system.(pwn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/students-told-to-come-up-with-concept-of-freedom-1447893297",
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