Democratization through evolution possible: Gus Dur

SEMARANG (JP): A Moslem scholar says it is possible to achieve an open and democratic society, the nation's founding fathers' ultimate dream, without changing the structure of the state.

Abdurrahman Wahid, chairman of the Nahdlatul Ulama Moslem organization, said in a discussion on Sunday that "changes" can evolve from society itself even as the structure of the nation remains the same.

"The 1945 Constitution can remain the same," he said, acknowledging, however, that reforms are still needed, particularly in relation to the balance of power and authority among state bodies.

Abdurrahman, better known to the public as Gus Dur, said the current balance of power is determined greatly by the laws. This situation, however, is starting to change as studies have identified at least eleven political laws which might be against the Constitution, he said.

"In the long run, this means that the struggle toward a more open society is identical with the efforts to establish a more democratic legal system," he said.

Abdurrahman argued that an open society should be "egalitarian, not capitalistic as it is now, or socialistic as it was during the Old Order administration under President Sukarno."

An open society, he said, is marked by equal treatment for all social and cultural groups. "There shouldn't be any privileges given to certain groups, nor should there be any confrontation between the forces of religion and secularism," he said.

He said "secularism is not a major sin," and that there's currently a process of secularization in various spheres of life.

He cited as an example the recent heated debates on the juvenile court bill. "There has been tension in the deliberation because the bill was drawn up in disregard of a number of religious considerations," he said.

The bill, if passed, will regulate, among other things, the adoption of children of certain religions by adults of different faiths. A number of Moslem groups have protested at the draft law, calling it a threat to Islam.

Abdurrahman also cited the state's control over religious life as another example of increasing secularization. The Ministry of Religious Affairs, for example, has the authority to determine many aspects of the public's religious life and one has to follow their directions in order not to be in open opposition to the government, he said.

"This secularization is dangerous for Islam," he said. "The Ministry of Religious Affairs should be supportive of religious activities, but not trying to control them." (31)