Regional autonomy could endanger national unity
Regional autonomy could endanger national unity
JAKARTA (JP): The incoming implementation of regional autonomy
is prone to neo-tribalism and ethnic nationalism, which may bring
nation building in Indonesia back to square one, a noted
sociologist warned on Friday.
"There is a strong tendency that ethnic boundaries encourage
people to form a province, as evident in the cases of Banten and
Gorontalo," Imam B. Prasodjo of the University of Indonesia told
The Jakarta Post.
Such a gesture indicates that the spirit of autonomy in a
region can work against the aim of building civic nationalism, he
said.
"In several cases, migrants in certain areas have been forced
to leave their homes by locals or fall victims to sectarian
violence," Imam said.
Imam expressed concern that if people are not aware of this,
conflict between groups in the country will be incited by ethnic
and other sectarian sentiments.
Over the past five years Indonesia has seen sectarian
conflicts in West Kalimantan, Maluku and Southeast Sulawesi,
which left thousands dead.
Experts define ethnic nationalism as shared emotions and sense
of belonging based on common culture, language, religion,
historical experience and/or the myth of shared kinship. A
community applies these criteria to differ its members from
others.
Civic nationalism, as emerged in Britain, the United States
and France, is based on loyalty to a set of political ideas and
institutions which are perceived as just and effective.
"Indonesia is muddling through this process. We are supposed
to be heading for civic nationalism, but what has actually
happened is the reverse," Imam said.
The local spirit in each region and province develops based on
ascribed status more than achieved status.
"People will be judged by their primordial background instead
of their achievement. This is an example of a primitive spirit
and must be avoided," he asserted.
The process of nationhood in Indonesia is not yet over and the
country is fertile ground for ethnic nationalism to grow, he
said.
"With rampant conflicts from grass roots to upper levels of
society and with ill-prepared regional autonomy, this could be
the beginning of the end. Now it is up to us to decide and to
save this country together," he said.
The new spirit of ethnic nationalism will endanger the
existence of the Indonesian nation, he said.
"You just name it. We have seen student brawls, communal
violence, political and economic conflicts and bickering among
the elite. So a better direction of regional autonomy is needed,"
he said. (edt)