Corruption, lawlessness: The root of all problems
Corruption, lawlessness: The root of all problems
The Indonesian society is mentally ill as it has lost its sense
of humanity. An good illustration of this was seen last week in
photographs splashed across the country with Bali bombing suspect
Amrozi and National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar, shaking
hands, laughing and posing for photographers. Franz Magnis-
Suseno, a professor at Jakarta's Driyarkara School of Philosophy,
talked to The Jakarta Post's Muhammad Nafik and Sri Wahyuni about
the issue.
Question: What's your comment on the images of a police general
smiling, shaking hands, and posing for photographers with
terrorist suspect Amrozi?
Answer: I was really surprised looking at the images (of Da'i and
Amrozi smiling at each other). It shows that we are collectively
insolent. We do not know what is appropriate and what is not.
This is a typical situation in our society in general. It is
rooted in our dull sense of humanity and justice. It's really
hard to understand such a thing. There must be something dull
within us, and this is very alarming.
Our dulled sense of humanity probably stems from the fact that
we have shed blood and committed violence too much. People find
it easy to consider others not as human beings but animals that
they can strangle or crush like cockroaches.
I'm concerned that decades of ruthlessness and humiliation of
human beings, and traditions to isolate parts of the nation from
the rest of it have left scars on the body of this nation. Scars
in the sense that the people have become unmoved and lack
sensitivity. Spontaneous outrage against violence and injustice
is no longer visible unless it has something to do with
ourselves. This is an indication of a weakness in our moral
culture.
Q: Would you elaborate further?
A: I'm trying to link it to how easily our people, especially
security personnel, kill others. The communists killed many
people, clerics and military figures, while the TNI (the
Indonesian Military) killed many communists, especially in the
aftermath of the 1965 coup. Millions of people had lost their
dignity, such that efforts to rehabilitate them were met with
protests from society.
We are watching the same things recurring in more limited
incidents. The biggest one of course being East Timor, in which
one fourth of its population died within years of the Indonesian
occupation. Other examples include the incidents of Tanjung Priok
and Lampung. None (of the masterminds) have ever been taken to
court.
We also see a lack of guilt about Aceh, that the extraordinary
violence that has been committed there is not comparable to the
target of, say, crushing GAM. You may agree that the separatist
movement must be eliminated, but why should it involve so many
killings, torture, rape and deadly shootings without compunction?
We have also been shocked by the Bali bombings. The
(government's) response to the tragedy was not bad, but why
shouldn't it be declared a national tragedy? There was no
statement of deep regret.
Q: But wasn't the nation united in its condemnation of the
bombings?
A: Yes, of course, but not a reaction of surprise, sadness, for
example, by ordering the people to lower the national flag to
half mast. I don't think such a thing even crossed people's minds
at all. Again, it has something to do with the dulled sense of
humanity.
Our poor legal system is partly to blame for this problem. Our
cultural values, too. We no longer care for each other. Human
relationships have worsened. The sense of community has developed
into communalism, in which the people can only fully comprehend
themselves in the community of the same village, ethnic group or
religion. Others from different backgrounds are not counted and
are instead considered as enemies or rivals.
Q: Are you saying that our society is mentally ill?
A: Yes. It is confused and lacks vision after being oppressed for
a very long period of time, and at the same time there is no
figure who can help it escape the problem. There is no figure
like Sukarno (Indonesia's first president) who was capable of
providing the community with the feeling of pride in being
Indonesian. We are poor and incapable of doing a lot of things,
but we are proud to be Indonesians. But, I think, one of the main
causes (of the lack of sense of humanity) is the domination by
the military over people's lives for more than 50 years.
The military used weapons and oppression, meanwhile no one
could compete with them. They solved all problems by shooting,
torturing, etc. The military has not really yet reformed itself
in the context of nationhood.
Q: But there are groups of people from different religions or
ethnic groups advocating peace, harmony and pluralism?
A: That's right. That's why we should not conclude that we are
completely hopeless. Even within the security forces, there are
(positive) values waiting for a stimulus to revive. They are
capable of developing high values. However, because our life is
now miserable due to the poor law enforcement against corruption,
nothing can work well.
Corruption is very critical not just because it is
economically critical and paralyzing our legal system, but it too
has been gnawing at our ability to develop a sense of solidarity.
Corruption has made people purely self-centered. In such
conditions, it is difficult for Indonesia to develop. We can only
be united if we come together.
Q: What solution would you suggest to deal with this problem?
A: We have to do so from top to bottom. From the top, from above
means that we have to take legal action against those committing
violence and other crimes. We have to eradicate corruption and
take corrupt officials and murderers to court. For example, it
has been a year since (Papua separatist leader) Theys Eluay was
murdered but up to now no one has been brought to court. We don't
need to talk much about morality. It's law and order that
matters. So let the law be upheld first. We have to affirm that
we want to be civilized and therefore stern action must be taken
against all uncivilized deeds.
Religion, too, can play a good role. If it becomes exclusive
and narrow-minded, it will encourage disintegration. Religious
leaders are models. If they ask their supporters to behave
patiently, tolerantly and fairly, and show solidarity with others
from different ethnic groups or religions, then it will be a
positive factor.
I am still confident, that if the situation is no longer
chaotic, the sense of humanity that has already died will be
renewed. National reconciliation is probably needed, but it
should involve all. Partial involvement will be useless.