Indonesia needs a dictator for two years: Observer

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)