Observers attack Clinton's list on unndemocratic states

Observers attack Clinton's list on unndemocratic states

SEMARANG (JP): The one-sided list of less-democratic countries
in Asia which was announced recently by the United States
President Bill Clinton was criticized yesterday by observers.

A member of the National Commission on Human Rights, Muladi,
labeled the list as a violation of human rights but a blessing in
disguise for Indonesia.

"By announcing such a list, the U.S. has shown its arrogance
because human rights standards in developing countries and in
developed ones cannot be compared," said Muladi, who is also
rector of the state-owned Diponegoro University here.

The International Herald Tribune printed last Thursday the
controversial list which classified all but two Southeast Asian
countries as undemocratic. Thailand and the Philippines were the
region's only winners, being classified as countries which were
becoming democratic along with South Korea, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Western observers believe that Clinton, who will be officially
sworn in as the U.S. President for a second term on Jan. 20, will
campaign more actively for human rights as part of his foreign
policy.

Muladi said democracy was relative, so that one country could
not force its version on another.

But he suggested that Indonesia accept the U.S. listing with
an open heart and look at how democratic principles were
implemented here.

The chairman of the Nahdlatul Ulama Moslem group, Abdurrahman
Wahid, played down Clinton's list separately yesterday, saying
that it had nothing to do with the development of democracy in
Indonesia.

"Take it easy. It's more important for us to launch continuous
efforts to improve democracy regardless of external pressures,"
said Abdurrachman, better known as Gus Dur.

The quality of a country's democracy relied solely on its
people, he said. Democracy required several conditions: the rule
of law and a government which is open, trustworthy and
responsible.

"If these two principles work well, we can call a country
democratic," he said.

Muladi, Abdurrahman and several political observers gathered
here at the invitation of Jaya Suprana, a renowned musician and
cultural expert, who celebrated the 80th birthday of his father
Lambang Suprana yesterday.

Another observer, Dawam Raharjo, said the U.S. had no right to
judge other countries' democracy. "Clinton has failed to see that
Americans themselves are struggling for democracy," Dawam said.

He predicted that the U.S. was unlikely to use the list to
pressure Indonesia. "It was just Clinton's political statement,"
he said.

But sociologist and outspoken critic Arief Budiman hailed
Clinton's list, saying it suited Indonesia.

"Frankly speaking, democracy in Indonesia only lives in
discussions; it has yet to turn into deeds," Arief said.

He argued that the list was scientifically reliable because
the U.S. government had involved a lot of developing-country
specialists. "There are many American scientists who know
Indonesia well," he said. (har/amd)