Inequities spur growth of 'formless' groups
SEMARANG, Central Java (JP): The rise of the so-called "formless organization" in Indonesia is partly a result of social and economic inequities, according to one political scientist.
M.T. Arifin, a lecturer at Muhammadiyah University in Surakarta, Central Java, said yesterday that, along with various movements advocating socialist ideas, huge social gaps had contributed to the emergence of the "formless organizations".
He told The Jakarta Post that a similar process was occurring in many developing countries in which various inequities were a side-effect of the development process.
"Indonesia and other developing states whose development has been quite successful have to maintain an awareness of socialist movements because there are still social-economic inequities," he said.
President Soeharto warned last week of the growth of "formless organizations", spreading communist ideas in the guise of concern for human rights or the environment. His concern was relayed to the nation by State Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Hayono Isman.
The Indonesian Communist Party and other affiliated groups have been banned since 1966, together with all literature and activities regarded as communist in nature.
Armed Forces chief Gen. Feisal Tanjung has also sounded the alarm recently about the new rise of communist activity, saying that clandestinely communist activists are trying to discredit the New Order administration of President Soeharto.
According to Arifin, communist teachings, which advocate the struggle of the working class against the capital-owning class, are very attractive to people facing economic inequities. The situation may be aggravated where there is evidence of collusion between sections of the bureaucracy and the business class, he added.
However, Arifin asked that a distinction be drawn between the communist menace and groups who are really concerned about various imbalances still existing here. Many activists involved in demonstrations and other forms of protest might be motivated by genuine concern, he said.
"It doesn't always mean that these groups are advocates of Marxist teachings. They could be acting on a shared concern for the improvement of public welfare," he said.
Arifin argued that to achieve such welfare there must be economic laws that favor the general public and not merely a particular segment of society.
Meanwhile, Din Syamsuddin, a leading member of the ruling Golkar political grouping, said that "formless organizations", characterized by anti-establishment activities, are a manifestation of individualistic tendencies in Indonesia.
The head of Golkar's research and development department said that confrontational approaches should be avoided in dealing with these groups. He said an anticipatory approach should be taken, focussing on conflict management.
He added that there are already anti-establishment groups in the Islamic community who dissent from the established Moslem organizations.
"In the more general political system, anti-establishment groups which strongly oppose established ones have certainly grown," he said.(har/mds)