Pancasila democracy needs clarification

JAKARTA (JP): What is democracy to Indonesians? More precisely what is the Demokrasi Pancasila that all Indonesians appear to have accepted?

Franz Magnis-Suseno posed this question at his inauguration ceremony to become professor of philosophy at Jakarta's Driyarkara School of Philosophy on Saturday.

Franz, who is also the rector of the university, said that while Indonesians do not appear to have any objections to the Pancasila Democracy concept, most do not understand what it really stands for.

"We still do not have a clear definition on Demokrasi Pancasila ideology," said Franz, who believes that a philosopher's place is to stand between those in power and their critics.

The values of Pancasila Democracy must be found in existing social and cultural conditions in Indonesia, the German-born philosopher, said.

Regardless of the origins of democracy, Franz said that democracy is still the only acceptable form of government in Indonesia.

Since independence in 1945, the nation's founding fathers agreed that Indonesia should be ruled by a democratically elected government.

Over the course of time, however, the nation has deviated from the ideals, he said, recalling that opponents of Sukarno, Indonesia's first president, were silenced or even sent to jail to prevent them from speaking out.

Nearly 50 years after independence, Indonesia has not found or formulated the kind of democracy that it should have, he said, stressing that future development in the country will depend on its ability to establish democracy.

Franz argued that Indonesia must strive to establish democracy to prevent the concentration of power in a few hands and also to move the country away from the feudalistic culture inherited from the Dutch.

Though he did not attempt to define the kind of democracy that Indonesia should have, Franz did assert that it must include such elements as a democratic decision making process, freedom of speech and opinion and the right to hold a different opinion.

In any democracy, all parties should view that they are all working on the same side, he said. "The main element in democracy is to regard your critics as fellow citizens and not to see them as enemies."

Another important element in a democracy is for the minority to accept its position and to follow decisions made by those in the majority.

A democratic state is also one that is ruled by law and where the government represents the sovereignty of the people, achieved through free and fair elections.

A democracy in Indonesia, however, will not allow absolute freedom. He pointed out that people in the country should pay heed to their culture when expressing their criticisms.

Born in Eckersdorf, Glatz, Germany, on May 26, 1936, Franz studied philosophy in Munich before coming to Indonesia in 1961 as part of a Christian mission. He became an Indonesian citizen in 1977 and helped established the Driyarkara School of Philosophy 25 years ago. He is the school's second lecturer to have been promoted to full professor. (imn)