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