Power centralization curbs democracy: Scholar

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)