Return to Old Order politics?

Return to Old Order politics?

From Media Indonesia

History repeats itself. This is also true of the political
history of our nation. We abandoned the Old Order because each
cabinet lasted so briefly that the leader became the only leader
the entire nation could rely on.

All political parties were vying with one another around the
charismatic leader, one that was near perfection. Political
parties, by hook or by crook, tried to curry favor with the
leader. They mobilized their masses and used them as a tool to
reach the ambitions of party leaders. The cadres of different
parties were engaged in mutual spying, threatening and
terrorizing. The mass media were instrumental for them to express
opinions and counter-opinions. Facts were twisted. The national
army was infiltrated and disguised cadres were groomed. The
culmination of all of this was the 1965 tragedy.

Then the New Order came and with it, all the old parties were
eliminated. New political parties were set up and were not
allowed to maintain direct contact with their supporting masses.
The term "floating mass" was introduced to ensure that the
villagers, all innocent and ignorant, could no longer be used as
a tool to achieve the ambitions of political party leaders. The
law on subversion was re-enforced to counter anarchy at its early
stage. But this concept, slowly but surely, degenerated into a
concept of anti-democracy. The New Order went bankrupt as a
result of its failure to manage the economic crisis. The
Functional Group (Golkar) as the political machine of the New
Order is now the target of denunciation and is subject to demands
for its dissolution.

In the present era, democracy has become a dream. Political
parties are in control of the country again. The national
military must return to its barracks and is invariably condemned.
Political leaders are fighting with one another again, a repeat
of the Old Order history. Mutual terrorizing and intimidation is
carried out by words or through the muscle of the masses in the
streets. Tragically, this time everything is done without any
objective to bring about the nation's glory. Democracy will not
be a pleasant dream if the masses continue to be provoked into
anarchy. The Old Order politics has really made a comeback.

We wonder, therefore, if this country can find a better way,
which will contribute significantly to the glory of the country.
Can civilian politicians and the military go hand in hand to work
towards the country's prosperity? Must the politicians suspect
the military and must the military just sit idly by seeing the
acts committed by the politicians?

Let's find the best solution for this country.

MALIK HUDIORO

Jakarta