Listening to new voices

Listening to new voices

Indonesia's current economic progress has undeniably spurred
rising demands for improvement in other social domains. This is
nothing new. History tells us that such trends have become needs
in other developing countries.

Therefore, the emergence of new mass organizations focusing on
improving things should be viewed as just a matter of course, no
matter how outspoken, or critical they may seem.

One such group, known as the National Brotherhood Foundation,
did not hesitate to discuss sensitive issues as a manifestation
of its social responsibility in Surabaya, Indonesian's second
largest city, early this week.

During the meeting, the first since the organization was
established last year, its leaders debated the nation's political
system, the role of the Armed Forces (ABRI), the national
leadership, the struggle for clean a government, the rule of law
and human rights.

Judging from the topics discussed and the statement issued at
the conclusion of its two-day meeting, the organization seems
intent on transgressing taboos. This seems particularly true if
we consider the current degree of political openness.

The organization, led by Bambang Triantoro, a retired three-
star general, who once served as deputy army chief of staff and
head of the Armed Forces Political Affairs Department, suggested
a re-evaluation of the nation's entire political system. It also
advised that the Armed Forces remain neutral in relation to the
system.

The organization further criticized the government for the
imbalance in the roles and power wielded by the presidency, the
military and business circles as compared to those of the
judiciary and legislative bodies, which seem to be growing
steadily weaker.

In fact, there should be nothing startling about this
outspokenness because civic rights encompass such actions.

Unlike the other groups which look at the current political
situation with critical eyes, such as the Group of 50 and the
Democratic Forum, the National Brotherhood Foundation seems to
enjoy support from a larger segment of society, with members from
various political persuasions, religions and age brackets. The
foundation groups retired freedom fighters, veteran politicians
and religious scholars.

Yet the organization's dauntless steps have astonished the
nation, although many people seem to be beginning to understand
that their actions are probably based on a sense of
responsibility as members of society. The most surprising move of
all may have been the sponsors's failure to ask for President
Soeharto's blessing when they established the organization, a
step unprecedented in the three-decade history of the New Order
administration.

It is also interesting to note that the organizing committee
of the Surabaya meeting decided that the show must go on even
after the authorities refused last month to grant them a
gathering permit under the antiquated law, which the government
has since shown the wisdom to abolish. Neither did the organizers
show any sign of discomfort at the absence of local authorities
at the opening of their meeting.

The members of this group apparently have unshakable self-
confidence because chairman Bambang said on Tuesday that he and
his colleagues have good records, never having drawn the least
bit of suspicion.

With its style and approach, this organization is clearly a
product of social change brought about by the development
policies of the past two decades. Since many of its leaders have
served the nation well in the past, their current actions could
well be regarded as a show of patriotism in a modern sense of the
word.

Clearly, acting wisely and accepting such new mass
organizations as unavoidable and positive realities would be most
admirable and reasonable. After all, it is a fact that people of
all generations are concerned about the future of this country
and where it is being led. And there is no question that the
National Brotherhood Foundation and other emerging groups could
function as political think tanks alongside those already
operating in the economic domain.