The tricks to dicipline<\/p>\n
Bantarto Bandoro, Editor, 'The Indonesian Quarterly',
\nCentre for Strategic and International Studies, Jakarta<\/p>\n
In her trip to China, North Korea and South Korea, President
\nMegawati Soekarnoputri stated openly that, despite the troubles
\nthose countries face as nations, they have immense national
\ndiscipline and dedication.<\/p>\n
This has perhaps been the most important factor in their
\namazing success. Megawati then was quick in referring to
\nIndonesia as a nation which lacks of national discipline.<\/p>\n
In a meeting with the Indonesian community in South Korea, she
\nsaid that in any field without national discipline, nothing can
\nrun smoothly.<\/p>\n
But in a country like Indonesia, which has been associated
\nwith a variety of negative images, one can always raise doubts
\nthat everything will run smoothly in spite of national
\ndiscipline.<\/p>\n
Thanks to the leaders of the countries who invited Megawati,
\nshe now recognizes the fact that something has gone wrong over
\nthe course of our national development.<\/p>\n
That Indonesia lacks national discipline has long been
\nrecognized by some members of the international community.<\/p>\n
That they often delay in extending financial assistance via
\nmultilateral lending institutions is just one of the things which
\nfurther adds to perceptions that Indonesia is not showing the
\nnecessary discipline to manage development funds.<\/p>\n
Distortion in the use of development funds has been seen as a
\nnormal process -- at least in the eyes of those involved in, and
\nresponsible for, the disbursement of the funds. But no one seems
\nwilling to touch the problems, as they have benefited from the
\nprocess.<\/p>\n
Disciplining the nation takes a great deal of effort, because
\nit touches every aspect of human behavior, and the dynamic of
\nchanges at the national level.<\/p>\n
One way of understanding how discipline works is perhaps
\nthrough the concepts and ideas the leaders, politicians and
\nbureaucrats generate, and how they go about using those concepts
\nand ideas consistently to make the real sense of the development.<\/p>\n
There have been continuous criticisms, manifested in a number
\nof street demonstrations against the slow progress in economic
\nand social development.<\/p>\n
The leaders' lack of concepts of development and ideas as to
\nhow to utilize domestic and external resources is perceived to be
\none of the causes for the slow pace of economic development.<\/p>\n
Domestic instability is, therefore, inevitable.<\/p>\n
Being a newly emerging democracy, Indonesia will always be
\nvulnerable to all kinds of disturbances stemming from both
\ninside, and outside, the country.<\/p>\n
It is perhaps within such a context that Megawati stated that
\nthe country has always been condemned for the mistakes her
\nadministration makes in managing the course of development. But
\nthis should not be seen as an expression of apology.<\/p>\n
A democratic climate in Indonesia will never flourish if
\npublic images of the government stay negative, and street
\nprotests will continue unless Indonesia's top leaders initiate
\nsignificant changes in their political behavior and mindset.<\/p>\n
Efforts at disciplining the nation should start with them as
\nrole models for the public, thus creating an atmosphere that
\nsupports and nurtures the course of national development.<\/p>\n
But perhaps it would be nice to have a magic formula that
\nwould really help discipline the entire nation.<\/p>\n
Leaders are supposed to be responsible for the success in the
\nexecution of the national development program and policies.<\/p>\n
If national development is to be successful, then Megawati's
\nadministration must realize that it must be based on a balance of
\nsteadfastness in principle and flexibility in practice to enable
\nrepresentatives of the national system (in the executive and
\nlegislative branches as well as the bureaucracy) to cope with the
\nproblems that inevitably arise in the course of development.<\/p>\n
That is to say that the \"visible hand\" of the state has to
\nleave adequate room for the \"invisible hand\" of the people to
\ntake part in development.<\/p>\n
This, however, requires a high degree of national discipline
\nin the sense that there must be consistency in the execution of a
\nwell-digested plan of development and if, in the process, things
\nget distorted, punishment will follow.<\/p>\n
The punishment should ensue immediately after the offense, so
\nthat one can understand the association between the misbehavior
\nand the punishment. The Megawati government should not look
\nblindly to the cases of Bulogate, Asramagate and Ancolgate.<\/p>\n
If such cases end up with no legal and political solutions,
\nthis will certainly have eroded public trust toward the
\ngovernment. A national discipline in the field of law enforcement
\nis therefore imperative, too.<\/p>\n
Demands for democratization and the rule of law will certainly
\ngrow in line with the degree of maturity of the nation.<\/p>\n
Such demands would have to be managed in such a way that it
\nwould result in a healthier political climate and institutions,
\nas well as a more conducive investment climate. For this to
\noccur, there must be bold measures toward creating national
\ndiscipline in all fields.<\/p>\n
Failure in such efforts will guarantee uncertainty in the
\ndirection of major trends in the country.<\/p>\n
Thus, if Indonesia continues to lack of national discipline,
\nit will cause the nation to fall apart sociologically,
\neconomically, and politically.<\/p>\n
Will Megawati bring a magic formula home for disciplining the
\nnation?<\/p>",
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