Kleden keeps the beat for better RI

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.