Capitalism dangerous to Indonesia: Juwono

Capitalism dangerous to Indonesia: Juwono

JAKARTA (JP): Communism is no longer the world's most
dangerous ideology, according to Juwono Sudarsono, the deputy
governor of the National Resilience Institute, the state military
think tank.

Speaking to reporters after the launching of two books
Kewaspadaan Nasional dan Bahaya Laten Komunis (On the Danger of
Communism) and Dokumen Terpilih Sekitar 30-S PKI (A Collection of
Selected Documents on the Sept. 30, 1965 Tragedy), Juwono said
capitalism has turned out to be more dangerous than communism.

"We can clearly differentiate communism from other teachings,
but can hardly identify the impact of capitalism as we nearly
cannot feel that it has affected our lives," he said.

He said that it was capitalism that has created a wide gap
between the "haves" and the "have-nots".

"Capitalism has created a wide economic disparity between the
rich and the poor," he said.

He said: "As a result of capitalism, there are Indonesians
whose monthly take-home pay is Rp 60 million (US$16,551), and
there are also Indonesians whose salary is only Rp 60,000 ($16.5)
per month."

Juwono, political science professor, said the economic
disparity was one of the crucial factors for the emergence of
dissatisfaction among the people, which could eventually lead to
violent action.

"Economic disparity could create a condition in which people
turn to radical ideologies," he said.

He denied speculation that capitalism has only affected
Indonesia.

"Capitalism has become a global trend now. All countries in
the world are also affected," he said.

He said that capitalism, which was profit-oriented, forced
company owners in all parts of the world to lay off many of their
unskilled workers and replace them with newly-invented industrial
machines.

"Unemployment is another reason for people to go to the
streets and strike or commit violence," he said.

Philosopher Franz Magnis-Suseno dismissed the possibility of a
reemergence of communism in the country.

"Our people would automatically oppose the ideology if anybody
wanted to reintroduce it into our political system," he said in
the discussion.

He said that communism was not accepted in international
affairs anymore.

"There have been a lot of riots in many parts of the world in
the past 20 years. However, none of them were motivated by
Marxism, the original theory of communism," he said.

He said that most of the riots were triggered by human
exploitation and dissatisfaction.

Speaking about a number of revolutionary university students
whose activities have been described as the triggering factor for
the July 27, 1996 riots, Magnis-Suseno said they did not
represent a new wave of communism.

"They only had radical thoughts. That's all," he said.

He was referring to 11 activists of the banned Democratic
People's Party (PRD), who are now imprisoned for their role in
the riots.

The government had earlier declared that their activities were
similar to those of communists.

Jai Singh Yadav, a visiting political science professor at the
Yogyakarta-based Gadjah Mada University, shared both Juwono's and
Magnis-Suseno's opinion.

"Communism does not exist in Indonesia anymore. It is
globalization and capitalism which has affected the young
generation and taken their attention," he said in a discussion
earlier.

He said that the current young generation was more clever than
their predecessors and was more worldly as a result of better
education.

"They know that communism hasn't been reliable in most parts
of the world up to now," he said. (imn)