Indonesia still intolerance of differing views: Academic

Indonesia still intolerance of differing views: Academic

JAKARTA (JP): Intolerance of dissenting opinions is retarding the growth of democracy on Indonesian soil, suggests a political observer.

Yusril Ihza from the University of Indonesia' school of law, argued on Saturday that the acceptance of differing opinions should be encouraged at the grassroots level.

"Debates, arguments and different opinions are needed to help develop democracy in our society," said Yusril in a discussion held by the Indonesian Catholic Students Union.

Yusril said democracy is not a top-down process and that the country's leaders should no longer force feed their own concepts.

"Training programs and courses coercing the same perception of the state ideology Pancasila are no longer necessary because there is nothing wrong with having a different view," he said.

The discussion entitled Social Justice and Challenges Faced by Nationalism in Indonesia, was also attended by Franz Magnis- Suseno, a philosopher and lecturer at the Driyarkara School of Philosophy.

Sharing Yusril's view, Magnis-Suseno said that different opinions are essential to a democratic society and would not erode the people's sense of nationalism.

"Nationalism is neither an ideology or a concept. It concerns one's feeling and love for his country and comes from the heart. It is a commitment," he said, pointing out that nationalism is not something that can necessarily be taught.

"The East Timorese, for instance, will not attain a sense of nationalism from ideology courses," he said.

Yusril said that there are many "illogical" indications that the current system does not tolerate disagreement.

"The nation's concept-makers design polices which benefit themselves. People are obligated to agree with them and the system does not allow public control," he said.

Yusril said a different control mechanism is essential to keep bureaucrats on the right track.

"Now, it is unclear to whom the Supreme Court and the Supreme Advisory Council, for example, must report to. Should they report to themselves, or God? There is no mechanism to control them," he pointed out.

Reporting to the president, he said, was also incorrect. "A higher or equal-level body should not report to a lower one."

Both Yusril and Franz emphasized the need for an effective checks and balances system.

Yusril said the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) should have a bigger role in controlling the country's leaders.

"When I was in a student organization, we needed several days and nights -- with no sleep -- to reach a consensus because we debated for hours. Now I am very surprised that the MPR only needs 11 days to discuss and approve ways of solving the country's problems," he said.

Franz stressed the role of the media in preventing the country's leaders from neglecting their responsibilities.

"There is no corruption in Germany, but not because the country's leaders have better morals than those in other countries. It is simply because public control is very strict...The media has power," he said.(pwn)