Korpri pledges reform to retain members

Korpri pledges reform to retain members

By Yudha Kartohadiprodjo

JAKARTA (JP): "We, members of the Civil Servants Corps
(Korpri), as part of the state apparatus, pledge to always put
the state's and the people's interest above our individual's or
corps'."

The excerpt is part of the Satya Prasetya pledge that each
member of the four million-strong Korpri has to memorize and
recite at the obligatory flag-raising ceremony on the 17th day of
the month in the courtyard of their office.

Every line of the pledge is chanted loud and clear by the
civil servants in their blue batik shirts. And yet it is no
secret that it is all lip service.

Low compliance of the pledge has increasingly raised questions
as to whether Korpri, as the only formal organization for civil
servants in Indonesia, is still needed.

With a possible change of government following the recent
general election, Korpri has come under public scrutiny. Its
political loyalty to government servants, rather than to the
public, has reduced Korpri's credibility.

Critics say the government has been using Korpri as a vote-
getter for the Golkar Party.

Korpri was formed following the issuance of a presidential
decree ahead of the 1971 elections, which obliged every civil
servant to become a Korpri member and to affiliate themselves
with Golkar. The controversial law was abolished earlier this
year.

"The law that obliged civil servants to support the ruling
party is a misinterpretation of good governance," says
sociologist Ignas Kleden.

Although the 1974 Basic Law of Public Administration
guarantees political rights to government employees, a conflict
of interest forces civil servants to stick with Korpri.

Most of the organization's leadership positions are held ex-
officio by senior government officials. Therefore, a civil
servant's involvement in Korpri is considered in assessments of
their performance, which determine their career.

In the past, each Korpri member was required to recruit 10
people to support Golkar.

It was not until the June 7 elections that civil servants were
free to choose their own political affiliation.

Ignas describes the practice of obliging Korpri members to
affiliate with Golkar as a "patrimonial traditional". In such a
system, the whole country serves the needs of the ruler. The idea
opposes the concept of modern bureaucracy, he says.

"The modern bureaucracy belongs to the state. Like the Army,
the bureaucracy aims to serve and protect the state. The
government may come and go, but the bureaucracy remains."

Of course, not all civil servants are happy with the
obligation of lending their political loyalty to Golkar.

"Korpri members became a part of society which had no voice,"
said Korpri member Risno, an employee of the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs.

Their personal views did not count, while their loyalty to the
government was exploited to favor Golkar.

Exploitation, however, did not only come in to play at
election time. Each month, many civil servants' salaries were
reduced by various obligatory donations.

"We had become a target of exploitation, while getting
practically nothing in return," Risno explained.

The sentiment, however, differed from one ministry to another.
Yanti (not her real name), an employee of the Indonesia Central
Bank (BI) for 20 years, has experienced the benefits of being a
Korpri member throughout her career.

"We are entitled to various facilities. In my office Korpri is
divided into sections overseeing different affairs, such as
religion, health and sport, to serve the needs of BI's
employees," she said.

For example, for only a modest fee, a BI Korpri member from
her office can swim at the Cilandak Sport Center in South
Jakarta.

However, Yanti acknowledged that such benefits might not be
available at all other government offices.

A new law that allows greater independence for BI has ruled
that it is no longer compulsory for BI employees to join Korpri.

"It seems that my office takes better care of its employees
(than other offices do)," she added.

Despite all the perks, Yanti observed that the monthly recital
of Sapta Prasetya wearied many of her colleagues. Some of them
choose to skip the ceremony until their supervisor intervenes.

With the lure of promises for better facilities and support
for it's members, Korpri's central leadership are trying to avoid
any further meltdown of the organization.

Prior to Soeharto's downfall last year, the Korpri chapter at
the Ministry of Forestry was dissolved by its members and Korpri
members at the Ministry of Information followed suit last month.

Korpri headquarters has listed possible benefits that may be
available in the near future for civil servants who retain their
membership.

Among the benefits promised are discounts for civil servants
and their families when they shop at state-owned companies.

"As a means to increase the welfare of our members, we are
currently developing a cooperation agreement with the Ministry of
Transportation to provide travel discounts," said Soenarko, a
Korpri deputy chief in charge of members welfare.

Korpri has already struck an agreement with Damri, the State
Bus Company, to provide a 20 percent discount for its members.

The new Korpri leadership, which assumed office three months
ago, is seeking a raise in civil servant's salary and an increase
in the quality of monthly rations of rice, as well as providing
housing to lower echelon Korpri members.

The leadership has also promised to reform itself.

With the stated intention of concentrating on Korpri's reform,
Feisal Tamin resigned from his position as secretary-general of
the Ministry of Home Affairs in May to become the organization's
chairman.

Minister of Home Affairs Syarwan Hamid said "Korpri needs
special attention because of its formidable membership."

Promises to reform Korpri have met with a skeptical reaction
from the public, especially after Tamin's objection to the
dissolution of the Korpri chapter at the Ministry of Information.

Tamin insisted that civil servants may not quit Korpri unless
they also quit the civil service.

"The organization should focus on its structure. It is
impossible for the organization to help its members if it is
still top heavy," said Rivqi Syarif of the Indonesian Institute
for Independent Judiciary.

In the past, Korpri executives forced their will on its
members, Rivqi added.

"In order for the organization to fight for its members'
rights, the members should have the freedom to decide whether
they will stay or go. You just can not force them to become
members," said Ignas, airing a similar sentiment.