Culture of opposition needed

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.