Revolution in thinking

Revolution in thinking

The process of democracy in Indonesia seems very complicated.
Democracy should bring a lot of good, but it now appears to be
complex and anarchical.

Many people worry that if the current models of democracy
persist, an impression will be created that the New Order regime
was better, more orderly and more prosperous even though that
would be a great mistake.

If we want to make democracy more effective, we must start
"learning" the true meaning of democracy.

Comrades in arms, let us reflect on the conditions of the life
of the Indonesian community, which is lagging far behind the
"normal" way of life in more developed countries. It has meant
that my colleagues in the Democratic People's Party (PRD) who are
trying to introduce an ideal concept in Indonesia cannot be
wholly accepted.

These colleagues from the PRD who want to bring a fresh wind
of change to the country have become the target of the security
forces. How unfortunate!

All of us with open minds for the enforcement of justice and
the enlightenment of the Indonesian people, let us jointly,
before we carry the song of physical revolution, push all
intellectuals to launch a revolution of thinking to begin with
us. We can see from current happenings that not all Indonesian
people are aware of the meaning of truth and reform, so that
whatever brilliant concept we propose is doomed to come to
nothing.

The only therapy now applicable is an equitable distribution
of knowledge in the community and the elimination of fear to say
no, so that what we want as an ideal will be supported by the
people. Only then will the light of truth shine through. We
should not become a community that merely loves the flag and that
does not know in what direction Indonesia must go.

Comrades in arms, wherever you are, if you are concerned with
an improvement in the condition of this country, let us jointly
enlighten the people. We should not do things that make the
nation more ignorant, which we have often witnessed in the past.

We are all aware that we have just woken from a 32-year-long
deep sleep and we do not know anything. The age of democracy is
still young. Let us start learning how to sit, to crawl, to stand
and, later, to run and join forces to carry the torch of freedom.
I wish that our joint struggle will bear its fruits under the
umbrella of truth.

MOCH. AGUS TIONO

Jakarta