Kleden keeps the beat for better RI

T. Sima Gunawan, Contributor, The Jakarta Post

Tonight, sociologist Ignas Kleden, 55, will reach a milestone in his life-long career as a social philosopher.

He will stand on the podium of a luxury hotel on Jl. MH Thamrin, Central Jakarta, to receive an award on Aug. 14, 2003 for his dedication and work as a social philosopher.

"I am glad that social philosophy is finally being recognized as a career, just like a House member or a law expert," Kleden said.

Just like athletes who are honored for their achievements in physical activities, he said, thinkers are awarded for their achievements in intellectual exercises.

The honor, presented for the first time by the Freedom Institute, is called the 2003 Achmad Bakrie Award, after the father of businessman Aburizal Bakrie. The award will also be bestowed on Sapardi Djoko Damono in the field of literature.

Since he was a teenager, Kleden, whose father was an elementary school principal, had been fond of writing and wanted to become a writer when he grew up.

"I didn't have the slightest clue that I would become a thinker," he said.

It was his environment that made him one.

Born on May 19, 1948 in Larantuka, East Nusa Tenggara, Kleden attended the St. Dominggo seminary school in the nearby town of Hokeng, and continued his studies at the College of Philosophy and Theology in Maumere. While studying at the college, Kleden wrote many articles for cultural publications as well as Catholic journals like Basis and literary magazine Horison.

In 1974, one year before his graduation, he decided not to be ordained a Catholic priest. So he left the college and went to Jakarta.

In the capital, he first worked as a freelance translator for the Indonesian Bishops Conference. He later became an editor of translated social science books and then publication coordinator at Yayasan Obor (Obor Foundation). He also contributed regularly to Kompas daily and Tempo weekly magazine.

His forays into literature and philosophy also took him overseas, and from the end of 1979 until early 1982 he studied at the College of Philosophy in Munich, Germany, for a Masters in philosophy. In 1990, he again traveled to Germany, this time studying at Bielefeld University in Hanover and graduated in 1995 with a doctorate in sociology.

Instead of speaking proudly of the fact that he graduated cum laude on both occasions, Kleden told of how he managed to get a room at a dormitory in Munich -- despite a long waiting list.

He approached the dorm director, who was a priest, and offered to play the chapel organ if he was accepted at the dorm.

"So, for two years I played the organ there," he said.

Kleden, who also plays the accordion, studied classical music and honed his musical talents when he was at the seminary school. Besides music, Latin was another subject that he studied. "Six classes a week for seven years," he exclaimed.

He believed that classical music could cultivate one's emotions.

"I don't know about other musical genre, because I don't have enough knowledge about them," he said.

Kleden said that he sometimes had small spats with his son about the kind of music to be played in the car, as his son did not really like classical music.

"But I never force my will on him. Every generation lives with a different spirit. It used to be very disciplined, with a top- down approach. Now, it is more liberal," said Kleden.

Kleden, who studied sociology as he realized the need for empirical tools to understand society, is currently director of the Center for East Indonesian Affairs. He has conducted many research projects and training programs, including programs on conflict resolution, throughout the country.

In Kalimantan, he said, the bloody ethnic conflict between the indigenous Dayak and Madurese migrants from East Java happened because of the inappropriate policy of transmigration.

In the beginning, people voluntarily left their hometowns for a better future on another island, he explained. But under the New Order regime, the people were forced to move from overly crowded areas, notably in Java, to sparsely populated areas.

"This was a 'push' project rather than a 'pull' project," he said. Under this program, the migrants, who enjoyed many facilities from the government, often failed to respect their host culture.

In Ambon, on the other hand, communal conflicts are commonplace, but can usually be settled via traditional conflict resolution institutions. However, said Kleden, the recent sectarian conflicts in Ambon became prolonged alongside the elimination of the conflict resolution institutions and the emergence of outside interference.

Commenting about the JW Marriott bombing and other attacks that have rocked the country over the past few years, Kleden observed that the attacks were side effects of the transition from an authoritarian to a democratic system of government. In an authoritarian system, human rights are suppressed in the name of overall harmony.

In addition, over the reformasi era that began in 1998, the military and the police appear to have become confused, after they were denied much of the political privileges they had enjoyed under Soeharto. "They became extremely reserved."

Indonesian society is now experiencing the winds of change.

"During the New Order government, people developed the art of doing nothing. It was best not to do anything, not to think about anything.

"Now, people are exercising the art of feeling nothing. There is now an absence of dignity," he said, referring to the erosion of moral and cultural values.

In a paternalistic society like Indonesia's, people expected a leader who could become a role model, which is wrong, said Kleden.

"A good leader is one who can be controlled, not one who can become a role model," he stressed.

"The chances for someone in power to extend their power is much greater than their capability to control themselves."

As for President Megawati, Kleden said, she should be blamed for her "mistakes of omission" rather than her "mistakes of commission", as she did nothing for the betterment of the nation.

He added that Indonesia needed a leader who was not necessarily brilliant, but one with heart.

Kleden, who is trying to help fix what he calls the "disorientation" of the view of the people and the government, is sometimes frustrated as things did not seem to improve. But he does not lose hope for a change for the better.

"We should continue to talk and talk. Being silent is a crime. Once we stop beating the drum, the dance is over."

For Kleden, it will be a long while yet until he chooses -- if ever -- to stop beating his drum.