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)