Nationhood and nationalism
After reading Insight, July 23, where Soedjati Djiwandono asks "Is a federal system suitable for Indonesia?" I took a walk into the brush one cloudy evening and could not help gazing at a dark sky where only a few stars were vaguely visible.
When I got up the next morning my answer was "No, a federal system tastes too much of colonialism. The present unitary system on the other hand is felt by some regional leaders to be too centralistic and stands in the way of prosperity and progress. This was underlined by the unprecedented visit the other day of our brothers from the province of Irian Jaya to President B.J. Habibie. During the visit, they pressed for changing the name of the province to West Papua with their own separate administrative system.
I am sure that in their subconsciousness they would strive toward no less than self-government toying with the idea of, in their own words "two systems, one nation".
The statesmanship and wisdom of leaders in this post-Soeharto era is being placed under "heavy tests" now. The French would say governer est prevoir" (the governing is looking forward). What shape is this republic to have in the future, say, beyond 2000?
Two years ago, Djiwandono's quarrying mind might be looked upon as high treason. Now, it just looks like he is about to start a new revolution. The truth is, the student-inspired first reform wave has ignited a revolution inside many Indonesian minds, especially those who are also gifted with a sense of foreboding. The reform era did not bring about what the Germans called Umwertung aller Werter (crushing of all values) but it did bring about Eine Aufklarung (clearing up of many dormant and critical minds).
The United Nations Charter allows the formation of self- governing territories with a population of as small as 200,000 inhabitants (Christmas Islands, Sycelles, Samoa).
The numerous ethnic groups in this vast archipelago, as vast as the area from Moscow to London, as we know, may think the time has come now for attaining a greater say in their own future and natural potentials.
If united, with injustice still rife and prosperity not shared equally among the various provinces, then it may be justifiable to attempt another system. The U.S. and the United Arab Emirates may serve as examples where regional political and even ethnic aspirations are channeled.
There is a "danger", of course, that these various autonomous entities would later opt for "nationhood"; the stronger their "nationalism" grows. The Dutch colonial system managed to unite this vast and diverse territory by means of force. We must unite by spirit, justice and equal rights and opportunities.
Personally, I prefer that every grouping should be given the opportunity to develop in the direction and shape as the majority of their inhabitants wish.
GANDHI SUKARDI
Jakarta