Indonesians find it difficult to remain objective: Scientist

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesians still find it difficult to remain objective or accept the presence of ideas that are not akin to their personal convictions.

The adversity to ideas which they regard as foreign is often evident in their rejection of even accepting the presence of books on these alternative ideas.

Political scientist Hermawan Sulistyo pointed out that the rejection of anything even remotely related to Communist or Marxist teaching was an example of this prevailing resistance.

He noted that resistance to varied ideas often constructs wrongful misperceptions in society, such as the phobia against Communist thought.

The hysterical rejection of President Abdurrahman Wahid's proposal to revoke a three-decade old decree banning Communism was proof of this, despite the President's insistence that it was only to repeal bans against Marxist teachings and not the revival of the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI).

Hermawan himself admits to being a victim of such paranoia.

He recounted that publishers have suspended the publication of one of his books, Palu Arit di Ladang Tebu (Hammer and Sickle on the Sugarcane Field), because of the title and its front cover illustration.

The Hammer and Sickle is associated with Communism.

"The publisher is afraid that it will draw public controversy as happened with the President's proposal (to revoke the ban on Communism)," he said.

During the New Order era there was a strict prohibition on anything which might be remotely connected with Communism due to the PKI's involvement in the 1965 abortive coup.

Hermawan, along with senior journalist Aristides Katoppo and activist Munir and Mudji Sutrisno, were speaking at a book launching here on Wednesday of eight translated American books.

The books range from classic novels such as John Steinbeck's Grapes of Wrath to a political philosophy work by Thomas Paine The Rights of Man.

Munir also recounted his own experience when reading a book which apparently did not conform to the persuasion of a colleague.

"He told me that it was useless to read such a book," he said, adding that the writer was considered a "left extremist".

Aristides Katoppo, who represented the Pustaka Sinar Harapan publishing company, also recalled how the company received strong protests for publishing books considered "leftist".

"And now, since these books that are being launched today are all written by Americans, people will accuse us of supporting Western imperialism or capitalism," he quipped.

With the support of the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta, Pustaka Sinar Harapan, along with Yayasan Obor Indonesia, Yayasan Jentera and Yayasan PATTIRO, are publishers of the translated works launched on Wednesday.

The inability of the general public to accept even works of literature displays an immaturity of society to engage in meaningful exchanges of views.

"The imperialism or communism accusations show that the public perception is wrong, and that Indonesians are unaccustomed to think at a discourse level," he said.

"Who cares if the writers are Americans, Jewish or Italian. We have to open up to any ideas," Hermawan added.

Mudji Sutrisno stressed that developing intellectuals was a necessary requirement for the nation if it wished to progress and raise itself from its current crisis.

"And books are the instrument as they open up horizons and perceptions," he said.(09)