Democracy never falls from the clouds

By Y.B. Mangunwijaya

YOGYAKARTA (JP): It has always been the wish of our country's founding fathers to set up a state ruled by law, in other words a democratic state.

They had sound reasons for it.

Their personal experiences with colonial police governments, run by the Dutch, the Japanese, and their own indigenous aristocracy, taught them that an independent Indonesia should never repeat evil things from their past.

It is not a democracy like, for instance, the Chinese Kuomintang, which was a covered dictatorship, nor the British example where the opposition believe they should always fiercely criticize the ruling party, opportune or inopportune, although loyally.

The British model was practiced throughout the revolutionary period and the following years until the mid 1950s. From then on a guided democracy was introduced, followed by a military style government with its chain of commands under Pancasila Democracy.

Today the young, not trusting the sincerity of members of the House of Representatives and the repressive attitude of the government, have demanded democracy. Which pattern they prefer they are yet to find out. From the bottom of their hearts they know that in a heterogeneous country like Indonesia with a population of 200 million people, an alien model would be disastrous.

On the other hand they are fed up with the tight social and political engineering of the past 30 years. The new generation breaths the air of an American way of life, consciously or unconsciously imitating the modes and trends of liberty of the West. These have been indirectly promoted by the government through big business amid a severe community lifestyle inherited from the Japanese Occupation Army's method of ruling.

Young people's longing for democracy is natural, even laudable. But there are many reasons why democracy will face serious obstacles in Indonesia.

Indonesia's population of 200 million scattered around thousands of islands and separated by vast waters will always provide a good excuse for an iron fist policy. The country will presumably need a condition sine qua non to guarantee unity of the country.

Thus repression is always a temptation. A certain kind of permanent state of emergency, even a hidden de facto martial law rule will be practiced continuously under the pretext of securing the nation from the ghost of balkanization.

A city state like the antique Greek communities which gave birth to the great idea and notion of democracy, or a small nation like Switzerland, Denmark, Norway, Holland or Belgium can easily adopt a democratic system, but a country with 200 million people?

India is also never regarded as a good example for Indonesia. And it is doubted whether Singapore or Malaysia emanate a true democratic system. There are many complex variables to consider, especially as to whether a country actually grows up democratically or not.

But one thing is obvious. Democracy needs rational-minded people. A democratic nation is a nation of smart people. Dull, ignorant or uneducated men and women do not make the best democrats.

Highly-emotional individuals are fit only for chaos. A democratic education system encourages students to explore, be creative and critical and offers opportunity for freedom of expression. It also fosters personal convictions combined with a deep sense of fair-play.

Education is also designed to teach students to think smartly, and not see the world in a naive way, with only a single solution for any problem. Democracy means emancipation begins from childhood, thus allowing a person's own talents to flourish. It also honors the individual and a wide variety of personalities.

One strange but encouraging paradox is that Indonesia's heterogeneity, which is commonly believed to provoke separatism, could help to develop diversity as a valuable asset. From this diversity, Indonesia can pave its way to becoming a mature nation. Indonesia needs to promote creativity, a fondness for lateral thinking and alternative solutions instead of a dull uniform mentality, which inevitably leads a nation to servility.

In this highly competitive world people not willing to explore and be innovative could turn the clock back on development. Do we already have a national education system as prescribed in the preamble of the 1945 Constitution?

If yes, then we have hope. If not, then there will never be a true democracy in this country and Indonesia's masses will continue to be poorly educated, immature and below others in the world. This situation would require urgent attention and should encourage the 200 million population to take action before their situation makes them crazy.

The writer is a Catholic priest, novelist and social worker.