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.