'Elitism could lead to trouble'

JAKARTA (JP): House Speaker Wahono warned decision-makers yesterday against exclusivism and playing favorites, saying such practices may foster a feeling of helplessness among the people and could lead to the emergence of a campaign for an "alternative political system".

Speaking in a plenary session marking the end of the current working session of the House of Representatives, Wahono said the notion that opposition political parties be allowed in Indonesia, was an example of an alternative system.

Moreover, a feeling of helplessness may cause people to believe that certain social and political forces are deliberately being marginalized, he said.

Wahono was apparently referring to recent comments on the existing political system made by a number of observers, including leading Moslem scholar Nurcholish Madjid and United Development Party chairman Ismail Hasan Metareum.

Nurcholish, for instance, said Indonesia needs opposition parties, while Ismail Hasan said the country's minority political parties had been "marginalized".

"We need to avoid (favoritism) in order to prevent the development of fatalism and helplessness ... (leading to calls for) for an alternative political system, such as (one in which there are) opposition parties," Wahono said.

Wahono defined favoritism as discrimination and placing the political and economic interests of one's own group over the people's welfare. He said such an attitude could lead to the emergence of national security problems.

"The House believes that the stagnation in the people's welfare, as well as discriminatory treatment placing the interests of certain groups, both politically and economically, above those of others, will have serious consequences," he said.

He also called for greater tolerance toward differences of opinion. "Differences should be accommodated within the framework of the Pancasila democracy," he said. "The Armed Forces and the bureaucracy should...encourage...a climate for (such) interaction."

Wahono decried what he called the "economization" of the nation's life, under which the economy has become the main consideration in various decision-making processes.

"Moral principles should be employed to control the dangerous, negative effects (resulting from economic development)," he said. That is where intellectuals and religious leaders have a role to play, he added.

Wahono also spoke about recent conflicts between ethnic and religious groups in several parts of the country, warning that, unless immediately brought under control, such tensions could have dire consequences for the nation.

He suggested a number of steps that the government should take, including "sincerely ensuring equity" of the fruits of development, the strengthening of nationalism and the prevention of fanaticism.

"Further, we need to solidify unity among all members of society," he added.

Over the course of its latest two-month sitting, the House has deliberated seven bills, including draft laws on the capital market, correctional institutions, customs and excise, small businesses and mortgages.

The House will resume its activities on Nov. 6.

According to Wahono, the legislators have been giving special attention to initial deliberation of the 1996-1997 state budget. Wahono said the House has encouraged the government to prepare a Five-yearly Goals guideline setting out details of the Five-year Development Plan.

The House has also fulfilled its tasks of controlling the government. "We have obtained many found out about many things from monitoring (the government's performance)...(such as) deviations from procedure, poor internal supervision and violation of laws," he said.

"The House leaders hope the government will pay serious attention to both the hearings (with the House) and the (House's) findings," he said.

Wahono touched on many other developments in society, including the various "sadistic" crimes committed over the past weeks. "It's unimaginable that a country adhering to the state ideology Pancasila and whose people are known to be friendly and civilized could be the scene of such horrendous crimes," he said.

"The House urges the law enforcers to impose stiff penalties on the perpetrators so that such crimes may never occur again," he said. "The House believes that the sadistic television programs aired have influenced behavior...enabling such inhumane acts to be performed."

"It's time for the government to introduce order in television broadcasting so that (television stations) will be more selective in airing programs," he said. (swe)