Academic laments lack of Indonesian statesmen

JAKARTA (JP): The country has given rise to an abundance of politicians but few statesmen because of the overwhelming politicization of public life, State Administration Institute rector Ryaas Rasyid said yesterday.

Ryaas told reporters after attending an Idul Fitri celebration held by Minister of Home Affairs Moch. Yogie S.M. that politicization was affecting all spheres of society because there was no room for issues other than politics in people's minds.

"There are too many politicians here. Journalists, bureaucrats, activists of non-governmental organizations and other people are all politicized," Ryaas was quoted by Antara as saying.

"People are eager to talk about politics every day because no sport or economic event can distract their attention from politics. Political jokes have become their interesting daily conversation," he added.

Ryaas will be inaugurated as a professor Tuesday at the institute, which is owned by the Ministry of Home Affairs, where he is expected to deliver a speech on improving state administration before the 21st century.

He said politicization was causing society to be conflict prone and, in turn, causing disintegration and chaos.

"Politicians differentiate friends from enemies. This line of thinking is absent from statements by those deciding policies for the sake of public benefit," he said.

For this reason, Ryaas threw his weight behind the government's floating-mass policy. "Political life needs a certain arrangement which avoids direct involvement of the masses in political decision-making processes. Otherwise, there would be anarchy," he said.

The proper political participation of people in a democratic society was democracy by representation, not democracy by mass, Ryaas said.

The 1945 Constitution recognizes indirect political participation through the House of Representatives. In May's general election, 427 of the House's 500 seats will be contested, while the remaining 75 seats will be awarded to members of the Armed Forces who do not vote.

Ryaas doubted that the huge number of politicians resulted from successful political education.

"Political education gives people knowledge of decision-making processes and citizen's rights and obligations. People who know these do not automatically become politicians," he said. (amd)