Culture of opposition needed
A widespread sense of uncertainty deepens while the nation grapples with its worst ever political and economic crisis. The Jakarta Post correspondent Gedsiri Suhartono talks to Goenawan Mohamad, the editor of Tempo magazine about the issue.
Question: What is happening to our country given that unrest, fear and uncertainty is so prevalent?
Goenawan: Lately, in tandem with the development of political force, there is a drive to turn to religion as a part of a means of gaining mass support. The illegitimate ruling power seeks support by trying to meet everyone's needs. Among other things, there seems to be a tendency to pitch those of the Moslem faith against those of other faiths.
Q: Is there any significant meaning in these differences?
G: When the differences are magnified based on absolute values, such as religion, there is no room left for compromise. The problems are turned into a problem of faith, which is rather superficial in my opinion. Religion should be liberating instead of oppressing. Oppression leads to people living in hatred and breeding that hatred in others.
Q: How substantial or genuine are those concerns?
G: Essentially, superficial. It is Habibie's legitimacy that the people are questioning, not a particular faith. Religion should be liberating and not restrictive. It should be noted that as Habibie simultaneously seeks support from various Moslem quarters on the national level, he needs to remember that it does not mean that all Moslems support him, nor are all Christians against him. The Armed Forces also has much homework to take care of, especially to rebuild its tarnished image as a result of past mistakes and wrongdoings.
Q: Why should the issue of religion come to the fore?
G: The development of market economy and consumerism as well as modernization has progressively made people lose a sense of community. To regain that loss, people search for something, tangible or intangible, to hold on to. This means to return to the realm of religion, something intangible, which allows room for the celebration of community. Throughout the history of the New Order, there have been times when Moslems have been cornered and marginalized. Perhaps there are a few who consider this volatile and somewhat liberated period as an opportunity to regain their position in a respective place in society.
Our society has been deprived of some basic elements, namely holding on to values and integrity, throughout the last 32 years. Moral judgments have slipped through decadence and our society has lost its depth. There are too many conflicting interests even in the reform movement, as there is no nurtured culture of opposition. We are simply working through some basic, elementary problems in democracy, namely understanding, tolerating and understanding differences.
Q: Certain groups seem to be easily incited lately. Why is this so?
G: Most people are easily angered nowadays after finding themselves helpless and perpetually marginalized in the past. The marginalized see an uncertain future and feel they have nothing to lose. What awaits them does not seem to be of much help either. Millions of people are being forced to endure economic hardship beyond their imagination. Things were difficult enough for some people prior to the crisis.
Q: Is our society turning more violent?
G: Our history is full of violence and blood. Not wanting to belittle any of the despicable unfolding events surrounding us right now, but blood and violence pervades the course of Indonesia's modern history. Hatred of certain ethic backgrounds, including those of Chinese descent, although this has not always been the case, is prevalent. A new element exacerbating this is the grudge fomented against Christians, plus the economic crisis.
Q: Do you have any explanation to the seemingly rampant conflicts between religious and ethnic groups?
G: As I have said, there seems to be a tendency to pitch believers of the Moslem faith against those of other faiths, a strategy used by some figures of authority to seek support from Moslems. People are claiming and questioning the legitimacy of the power holder as well demanding the implementation of full democracy. But these concerns are being twisted to somehow appear as opposition to a particular figure, as though it is opposition to Islam. This means making a division based on religion, when the gist of the problem is whether the authority is willing to give people a full or halfhearted system of democracy.
Q: Do these seemingly long lasting calamities reflect any new phases of who actually comprises Indonesian people?
G: There is really not just one face of the Indonesian people. It is unfortunate that there are more people taking the law into their own hands, as can be seen through the various violent riots. This too is a reflection of the eroding trust of the people toward the authority, a loss of legitimacy.
Q: Are we going down the drain altogether?
G: I don't believe in a complete meltdown. There has never been a nation that's been completely destroyed. It will take time for us to recover, and we will face many hardships. In the meantime, a culture of opposition needs to be nurtured to enable democracy to flourish to its full potential.