Is there a magic formula for disciplining the nation? Bantarto Bandoro Editor, 'The Indonesian Quarterly' Centre for Strategic and International Studies Jakarta

In her trip to China, North Korea and South Korea, President Megawati Soekarnoputri stated openly that, despite the troubles those countries face as nations, they have immense national discipline and dedication.

This has perhaps been the most important factor in their amazing success. Megawati then was quick in referring to Indonesia as a nation which lacks of national discipline.

In a meeting with the Indonesian community in South Korea, she said that in any field without national discipline, nothing can run smoothly.

But in a country like Indonesia, which has been associated with a variety of negative images, one can always raise doubts that everything will run smoothly in spite of national discipline.

Thanks to the leaders of the countries who invited Megawati, she now recognizes the fact that something has gone wrong over the course of our national development.

That Indonesia lacks national discipline has long been recognized by some members of the international community.

That they often delay in extending financial assistance via multilateral lending institutions is just one of the things which further adds to perceptions that Indonesia is not showing the necessary discipline to manage development funds.

Distortion in the use of development funds has been seen as a normal process -- at least in the eyes of those involved in, and responsible for, the disbursement of the funds. But no one seems willing to touch the problems, as they have benefited from the process.

Disciplining the nation takes a great deal of effort, because it touches every aspect of human behavior, and the dynamic of changes at the national level.

One way of understanding how discipline works is perhaps through the concepts and ideas the leaders, politicians and bureaucrats generate, and how they go about using those concepts and ideas consistently to make the real sense of the development.

There have been continuous criticisms, manifested in a number of street demonstrations against the slow progress in economic and social development.

The leaders' lack of concepts of development and ideas as to how to utilize domestic and external resources is perceived to be one of the causes for the slow pace of economic development.

Domestic instability is, therefore, inevitable.

Being a newly emerging democracy, Indonesia will always be vulnerable to all kinds of disturbances stemming from both inside, and outside, the country.

It is perhaps within such a context that Megawati stated that the country has always been condemned for the mistakes her administration makes in managing the course of development. But this should not be seen as an expression of apology.

A democratic climate in Indonesia will never flourish if public images of the government stay negative, and street protests will continue unless Indonesia's top leaders initiate significant changes in their political behavior and mindset.

Efforts at disciplining the nation should start with them as role models for the public, thus creating an atmosphere that supports and nurtures the course of national development.

But perhaps it would be nice to have a magic formula that would really help discipline the entire nation.

Leaders are supposed to be responsible for the success in the execution of the national development program and policies.

If national development is to be successful, then Megawati's administration must realize that it must be based on a balance of steadfastness in principle and flexibility in practice to enable representatives of the national system (in the executive and legislative branches as well as the bureaucracy) to cope with the problems that inevitably arise in the course of development.

That is to say that the "visible hand" of the state has to leave adequate room for the "invisible hand" of the people to take part in development.

This, however, requires a high degree of national discipline in the sense that there must be consistency in the execution of a well-digested plan of development and if, in the process, things get distorted, punishment will follow.

The punishment should ensue immediately after the offense, so that one can understand the association between the misbehavior and the punishment. The Megawati government should not look blindly to the cases of Bulogate, Asramagate and Ancolgate.

If such cases end up with no legal and political solutions, this will certainly have eroded public trust toward the government. A national discipline in the field of law enforcement is therefore imperative, too.

Demands for democratization and the rule of law will certainly grow in line with the degree of maturity of the nation.

Such demands would have to be managed in such a way that it would result in a healthier political climate and institutions, as well as a more conducive investment climate. For this to occur, there must be bold measures toward creating national discipline in all fields.

Failure in such efforts will guarantee uncertainty in the direction of major trends in the country.

Thus, if Indonesia continues to lack of national discipline, it will cause the nation to fall apart sociologically, economically, and politically.

Will Megawati bring a magic formula home for disciplining the nation?