Government tolerance of criticism fading: Loekman

YOGYAKARTA (JP): The government's tolerance of criticism and "alternative ideas" is wearing thin, well-known political observer Loekman Soetrisno believes.

"What happens now is that the government increasingly uses its political power to resolve state problems," he said in a seminar on current politics at Gadjah Mada University here Wednesday.

The trend is used to discourage people from expressing their ideas and criticizing the government, said Loekman, who is also a professor of literature at the university.

To make things worse, the government plays patron to only one political organization (Golkar) and trumpets its propaganda, he said. People from other political groups find it hard to get their interests incorporated into government policy, he added.

"As a result, apathy reigns in almost all sectors of society because people just don't believe the government would listen to them," Loekman said.

He pointed out that Indonesia's closed political structure has made it impossible to predict future trends. In addition, the Indonesian middle class is too weak to pioneer change.

Loekman gave a gloomy forecast for Indonesia's sociopolitical situation in the coming two decades, as the country prepares to join the global liberal trade network, unless the bureaucracy does something to mend its ways.

Political observer Syafii Ma'arif lamented the feudalistic attitude and corrupt practices which are still widespread in the bureaucracy. He pointed out that feudalism and corruption cannot live alongside democracy.

"The nation will have weak moral foundations if the social ills continue," said Syafii, from Yogyakarta's state Institute of Islamic Studies.

Syafii suggested that the government is open to suggestions and criticism from the people who wish to offer input into how the bureaucracy could be improved. (har/pan)