Nation needs to adopt sense of remorse: Activist

Nation needs to adopt sense of remorse: Activist

JAKARTA (JP): The nation needs to adopt a common mind set in
which it will agree to stop vengeful attitudes and instead adopt
a mood of forgiveness if it is ever to heal the wounds of
communal conflict which has pierced the heart of the nation, a
noted advocate for peace has said.

Judo Poerwowidagdo, who has dedicated the last few years to
reconciliation efforts, insisted that it would be difficult for
the nation to progress forward if it could not reconcile with its
past.

Judo, who is also the rector at Krida Wacana Christian
University, has been advocating the implementation of a South
African model for reconciliation here.

"After studying several models from Latin America, Africa,
South Korea, Ireland, I have found the South African model to be
the most appropriate as it can be adjusted to the situation
here," he told The Jakarta Post in a recent interview.

Judo pointed out that there were clear similarities, such as
the sociopolitical condition, and differences, including the
apartheid system, which made adjustments possible so the model
could be applied here.

When asked whether Indonesia's various cultural and social
characteristics were not enough to cure the situation, Judo
swiftly replied: "The reality is that they can't."

"Our culture takes up the character of reprisal: An eye for an
eye, a tooth for a tooth. Meanwhile, reconciliation assumes
forgiveness."

This element of "forgiveness" is the key factor which needs to
prevail, he said.

"The core is for those who committed a wrong to admit their
guilt, while the victims must forgive."

He admits that this is not easy in Indonesia, especially since
the examples cited were those of renowned men such as Nelson
Mandela and Bishop Desmond Tutu.

"Even if there aren't men like them here yet, does that mean
we have to give up? The point is that it is not a one-on-one
case. There has to be a willingness from the whole country to
forgive and not act in vengeance," Judo remarked.

"Forgive, but don't forget. You're able to forgive because you
remember how cruel it was, how painful the suffering was. You
need to remember the past in order not to repeat it."

Since 1996, Judo has helped organize 10 training sessions of
this model in Jakarta, Yogyakarta, Kupang in East Nusa Tenggara
and Luwuk in Southeast Sulawesi.

About 350 people have participated in these sessions.

In the near future, Judo intends to expand the training by
widening the people who participate thus allowing greater
penetration in society.

When asked what make those who have gone through such ordeal
forgive, or those who have committed crimes confess, Judo
philosophically answered: "it will bring calm and make their
lives more at ease."(mds)