Indian lesson for RI
Indian lesson for RI
The article Democracy Indian-style: What lessons are there for
Indonesia in the June 11 issue made an interesting read, as I
have grown old through the democracy of India.
In India, the civilian leadership has played havoc on the
system; in Indonesia, the army did. The conclusion is evident:
Neither is better than the other.
Instead, it is the quality of the individual holding the top
post that makes a difference.
The UK's democracy has grown over many centuries, and its
citizens were given their rights gradually as they became aware
of and demanded them. Initially, therefore, only the nobles had
decision-making powers, then the commoners obtained suffrage in
the early 1920s and women's suffrage, only in 1949.
In the U.S., they had a written, but small, constitution,
which grew for the better through fair judicial pronouncements.
India, a nation that achieved independence far later, drew the
best from all prevalent systems and enacted a lengthy
constitution. Yet, it has been implemented so badly that most
noble intentions have been subverted. India ranks near Indonesia
in corruption, 20 percent of its population live in hunger and 35
percent are illiterate, while disruptive and divisive elements
are gaining strength, power is usurped through voter
intimidation, individuals with pending criminal cases become
ministers, judicial processes continue for decades and justice is
denied in the end, innocent people die in police custody, wealthy
killers can escape the law, sacred rivers are polluted beyond
redemption, etc, etc.
A universal adult franchise cannot work in a society afflicted
with so many disabilities.
The first lesson for Indonesians from the experience of India
is that they should elect to power an individual with a proven
reputation of being incorrupt, educated, capable, firm and a
staunch nationalist -- like Sardar Patel at the time of Indian
independence, Lee Kuan Yew of Singapore or Mahathir Mohammad of
Malaysia.
Indonesia is truly secular. They should continue to preserve
their heritage and be proud of it. Religion is the concern of an
individual and not the state -- and all religions lead to the
same Almighty God.
DEEPAK NARAIN, Bogor, West Java