Cry for justice often isn't heard in Indonesia

Cry for justice often isn't heard in Indonesia

JAKARTA (JP): The cry for justice is rarely heard in Indonesia
-- not because there is no cause for it -- but because the
culture does not encourage people to indulge in such practices,
according to a seminar on social justice.

A number of speakers at the seminar felt that Indonesian
culture dictates that most Indonesians simply accept their fate
with little complaint. This includes when their interests or
rights are being trampled.

People need to develop the culture of speaking out about
social injustice, the members of the seminar, which was jointly
organized by the Islam 45 University and Republika daily,
concluded on Saturday.

Speakers and participants of the seminar agreed that to create
equal justice, the people must be encouraged to reject any action
by the government which harms their interests instead of simply
accepting them.

They are also of the opinion that it was high time the
government gave more freedom for people to participate in
politics to give them the chance to express their opinion.

Seven speakers addressed the seminar on "The Various
Dimensions of Justice in Development and Social Changes".

Minister/State Secretary Moerdiono delivered the keynote
address along with other speakers, which included economist
Sritua Arief, Moslem scholar Nurcholish Madjid, poet Emha Ainun
Nadjib and political analyst Amir Santoso.

Moerdiono said in his speech that the concept of justice, upon
which Indonesia was founded 49 years ago, should be fully
implemented. "Independence is about humanity and justice. Justice
and Prosperity are the two goals of our independence struggle,"
he said.

"Social Justice for All" is the fifth and last tenet of
Pancasila, the five-point state ideology. Critics of the
government said Indonesia should achieve this goal immediately.

In his presentation Sritua questioned the government's
commitment to this goal, given that the people rarely complain.

"We have a shameful culture because we haven't made justice
one of our primary concerns," Sritua said.

People should develop a less complacent attitude, especially
when their interests or rights are being threatened, Sritua said.

He said he agreed with the thought of the late Sutan Syahrir,
Indonesia' first prime minister, who said people should not
accept the situation as given but should fight to improve it.

Justice

"Our social history tells us that, to this day, we've not yet
been willing or able to further the objectives set out when we
fought for independence to establish social and economic
justice," Sritua said.

He said it would probably take a major political reform to
create an administration which is truly committed to the
promotion of justice.

Amir told the participants that justice and democracy are
already seen as a necessity in Indonesia because of the global
pressures.

He said the government will be under increasing pressure to
make way for democracy and justice as more and more people are
now being enlisted as taxpayers.

Amir, however, felt that the political system has not allowed
for an effective control of the government's power. "Power tends
to corrupt in the absence of effective supervision," he said.

He said equal income for all may be a utopia, but the
government should at least create an atmosphere that allows for
equal opportunity for all.

He cited as an example the government's economic policy
which has greatly favored the big and powerful companies, which
enjoy privileges and special protection.

In contrast, small businesses are denied access to loans.

Nurcholish and Emha discussed the concept of justice from an
Islamic perspective and both agreed that political justice could
be created through promoting democracy. (par)