Economic disparity threatens unity: Scholar

Economic disparity threatens unity: Scholar

UJUNGPANDANG, S. Sulawesi (JP): Scholar Taufik Abdullah has
said that two of the greatest threats facing Indonesia are the
economic gap and regional development differences.

Without appropriate handling these problems could lead to
disintegration, says Taufik, an historian and National Institute
of Sciences senior researcher.

People in the less developed eastern regions of Indonesia have
started demanding serious attention, he said.

"In addition to the gap and disparity in development, national
disintegration may emerge from (discontent) over the performance
of those in power," he told The Jakarta Post after addressing a
seminar on Islam and Nationalism at the Alaudin State Institute
for Islamic Studies here Saturday.

"People have started to demand change while the power holders
want to maintain the status quo," he said, adding that discontent
could erupt into violence.

The recent riot here, he said, was actually "a criticism of
the power holders".

The rioters might have hurled stones at the homes and
businesses of ethnic Chinese, but "stoning is an act that is
prohibited by the power holders. If people did it, they were
indirectly criticizing the power holders."

Ahmad Syafii Maarif, an historian from the State Institute of
Islamic Studies in Yogyakarta, agreed with Taufik, adding that
discontent could also arise over "the face of the power holders".

He said one example was the accumulation of power in only a
few levels of society.

Another example was that all the members of one family had
seats in legislative bodies, he said.

Komaruddin Hidayat, a lecturer at the Syarif Hidayatullah
Institute of Islamic Studies in Jakarta, said that religions and
ethnicity were no longer the main obstacles preventing national
integration.

"What's more important is for us to provide political
education to people," he said.

"Without political education people will have to only watch
power being enjoyed by a few."

He said that the people had been politically alienated,
despite development.

"This is very sad," he said.

"The political culture shown by the elite (group) is really
chaotic."

He said people would stay united if they felt they shared the
same fate. But political and economic injustice could cause
disintegration.

"This threat will appear even more transparent if people's
sovereignty is trampled upon by the power holders," he said.

"People feel suffocated because they know there's a system,
but control is weak and the power holders are arrogant," he said.

He called for greater space for public expression.
(37/10/swe)