Indonesia needs a dictator for two years: Observer
JAKARTA (JP): Sick of the political wrangling and violence ravaging the country, a social scientist has suggested that Indonesia adopt an authoritarian leader, or even a dictator, to firmly resolve matters and put the country back on the right track.
"We need a dictator who will be given two years, for example, to solve the problems occurring at all levels of society," scholar Parakitri Simbolon said at a seminar titled Transitional Politics Agenda: Disintegration and Reconciliation Problems.
Parakitri did not name a suitable dictator but stressed that it should be someone firm and brash enough to tackle the multitude of problems.
Taking his lead from 16th century Italian philosopher Niccolo Machiavelli, Parakitri said it did not matter who the person was or what measures were taken.
What is important is the outcome, Parakitri said.
Machiavelli in his classic work Il Principe advocated the establishment and maintenance of state order by authoritative means.
Parakitri remarked that the kind of "dictator" or "authoritarian" he was describing should not be viewed in a negative sense, but rather as a person who is assertive to firmly and swiftly make harsh decisions for the state if necessary.
"Never consider the dictator (that I mean) the equivalent of a corrupted authoritarian regime," he said.
Apart from weeding out corruption and maintaining the integrity of the state, it would also be important for this leader to completely wipe the slate clean by purging all officials who had connections with the New Order government.
"As it stands, there is no clear distinction between the new and the past. People of the old genre mix with new people in the government," Parakitri said at the seminar held at the Institute for Economic and Social Research, Education and Information.
He contended that only after the "cleansing" period could full-fledged democracy thrive, after which the so-called dictator should then be replaced.
"If the dictator fails, we could kill him (or her)," Parakitri quipped.
Another speaker at the seminar was legal expert Bambang Widjojanto who, while not expressing direct support for the Machiavellian idea, did lament that elements of the New Order regime were still playing a role in President Abdurrahman Wahid's government.
"People of former president Soeharto are still involved in institutions set up by Gus Dur," Bambang, who is also chairman of the Foundation of the Indonesian Legal Aid Institute (YLBHI), said, referring to Abdurrahman by his nickname.
He also criticized Abdurrahman for trying to centralize his power by suggesting his personnel aides be appointed to influential institutions.
Abdurrahman mentioned on Tuesday several people whom he would propose be appointed to state institutions in a bid to weed out corruption.
Bambang said that while the record of these people were unquestionable, it should not be necessary for the President to recommend such people as they eventually could be considered his cronies.
They are all good people, but if the President lauds and appoints them in such a way they might end up worshiping the President, he remarked.
Bambang instead suggested that the government make every effort to revitalize the overall system by improving such things as the Supreme Court, rather than establishing more institutions such as the National Commission on Law or naming an ombudsman. (jun)