Power centralization curbs democracy: Scholar
JAKARTA (JP): The government's favoring of the strongest political and economic groups seriously hampers democratization in Indonesia, a scholar said Thursday.
Riswandha Imawan of Yogyakarta's Gadjah Mada University said at the launch of a book published by the National Brotherhood Foundation (YKPK) that the government's partiality was a misinterpretation of the unitary state principle inherited from the country's founding fathers.
He was referring to the concept introduced by Soepomo more than 50 years ago, which suggests the state stand above all groups.
"It's obvious, however, that the state has integrated itself with the largest political group Golkar and the strongest group, the armed forces. Business heavyweights later join the alliance, only to let collusion or corruption grow," he said.
The Indonesian bureaucracy and the armed forces are the two major groups which lend their support to Golkar to win general elections. Members of the armed forces do not vote, but their families and retired officers are obliged to vote for Golkar.
Riswandha was reviewing the book titled Reformation which compiles several papers presented by public figures, including Moslem leader Abdurrahman Wahid, economist Kwik Kian Gie and political analyst Marzuki Darusman, in a discussion which marked the inauguration of the YKPK in January last year in Surabaya.
The YKPK groups retired armed forces top brass and key figures from different political organizations. Lt. Gen. (ret.) Bambang Triantoro, former chief of the Armed Forces sociopolitical affairs, and deputy chairman of the United Development Party, Matori Abdul Jalil, are chairman and secretary-general of the YKPK.
Over 300 people packed the Hilton Golden Ball Room at the launch which featured a talk show hosted by columnist Wimar Witoelar. Ousted Indonesian Democratic Party leader Megawati Soekarnoputri and her supporters were present and it was obvious that several attendees could not avoid supporting her in the discussion.
Former House Speaker Let. Gen. (ret.) M. Kharis Suhud, government critic Ali Sadikin, National Commission on Human Rights member Maj. Gen. (ret.) Samsudin, deputy chairman of the Independent Election Monitoring Committee Mulyana W. Kusumah and soothsayer Permadi were also present.
Riswandha said the very strong state had seized the people's freedom and tended to cause suspicion of the emergence of non- government organizations.
"They (state officials) beef up antagonistic ways of thinking by polarizing people into the right wing and left wing or the Old Order and New Order," Riswandha said.
"This shows that the country's political elite lack the skills to manage conflict among people, which has brought about the continuing riots," he said.
Riswandha said people were doubtful about political openness introduced by the government early in 1990s, suspecting that the loosening posture aimed only to sort out opposing groups.
He said officials should talk more, instead of threats or force, to settle disputes "particularly in the coming 21st century, when the demand for democracy will be unavoidable."
"I'm also afraid that Indonesians will compete in the next century's free trade era while their nationalism is fading," he said.
"Many officials call for people to use local products, but they themselves do not use them."
The book contains criticism of the government which during the first 25 years of its development program has set an impressive record but failed to respond to a changing society.
"The New Order, which was born with its concepts of reformation, seems to have lost its direction. It needs to settle fundamental problems which are national unity, social justice and democracy," the book's foreword says.
The YKPK says in its book that democratic principles have been contaminated by the power holders who fully use constitutional procedures to stay in power. (amd)