Decency in politics

Calls for decency in politics have been emerging lately amid the new phenomenon of people being stigmatized by suspicions of being "ninjas" and sorcerers. Well over 100 people in East Java have been murdered by "ninjas" acting at the orders of unknown parties. Several of those "ninjas", who were captured by village vigilantes, turned out to be mentally disturbed, judging by their speech and appearance.

Simple killings -- acts that by their very nature are obviously criminal -- are made to appear as complicated matters by statements that are politically motivated. By politicizing the issue, people are making the problem difficult to solve since all the institutions concerned are now reluctant to disclose anything. Everything has taken on a threatening aspect that could endanger our very unity and cohesion as a nation.

Our world of politics has lost its culture of transparency. We have not as yet adopted a political culture that is predictable. Intrigue, terror, deceit, trading accusations and playing off one party against another are considered facts that must be accepted as parts of the political game.

Our political culture is still entrapped in its old predilection, which is to serve the strong and powerful.

-- Media Indonesia, Jakarta