Scholars skeptical about Maoist theory

Scholars skeptical about Maoist theory

JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto's allegation that Maoists
masterminded the recent riots received skeptical responses from
scientists yesterday.

Amien Rais, Kausar Bailusi and Farid Ali were of the opinion
that the sectarian violence in Situbondo, East Java, and
Tasikmalaya, West Java, was fueled by socio-economic disparity.

Amien, a political scientist from Yogyakarta's Gadjah Mada
University and chief of Muhamadiyah Islamic organization, said he
doubted Soeharto's theory.

However, he agreed the socio-economic disparity issue must not
be exaggerated to stir up emotions that could lead to fresh
rioting.

President Soeharto told Moslem preachers last week that small
groups of Maoists masterminded a series of disturbances in an
attempt to change the state's foundations. According to him, the
groups had employed Mao Zedong's theory of controlling villages
enroute to power.

"I would say this is a new version of the old theory about the
practices of the Indonesian Communist Party. However, as an
academic, I won't accept that (the speculation) right away," said
Amien.

Indonesia, the home of 195 million people, saw three major
outbursts of ethnic and religious conflict in the last three
months. The first occurred in Situbondo, East Java last October,
claiming five lives. The second hit Tasikmalaya, West Java, on
Dec. 26, leaving four dead. Less than a week later, riots rocked
Sanggau Ledo in West Kalimantan. Five were killed.

In Situbondo and Tasikmalaya, 38 churches were set ablaze or
damaged, several police posts destroyed and dozens of shops
belonging to entrepreneurs of Chinese descent were set on fire.

Several military and civilian leaders have blamed anonymous
irresponsible people, wanting to topple the government, for
fueling the lawlessness, claiming they were linked to the now
outlawed communist party.

Tension

Amien shared Soeharto's view that over exploitation of the
issue of disparities within society would only heighten tensions.

"Discussions on inequalities either on TV, in seminars and
newspapers must be sustained properly, openly and honestly, so
that we remember that those basic problems remain," Amien said.

"We should not keep silent when we watch social disparities
before our very eyes, unless we have lost the courage to redress
the problems," he added.

Amien called for continuous efforts to be made toward finding
a solution to the socio-economic disparities, rather than just
words of condemnation.

"Let's try to understand disparities, because by doing so we
complete half of our hard work. Failure to understand will lead
us to choose inappropriate measures of settlement," he said.

Another political scientist, Kausar Bailusi of South
Sulawesi's Hasanuddin University in Ujungpandang, denied
allegations that communists were behind the riots.

"The outbreaks were no more than expressions of demand for
overall improvement, especially the betterment of people's
economic lives," Bailusi said. "The accumulation of wealth in the
hands of a few people makes the people sick," he added.

Bailusi's colleague, Farid Ali also said the recent unrest had
nothing to do with Maoism. The accusation that communist
activists were behind the riots was politically motivated and
therefore was irresponsible from a legal point of view, according
to Farid.

"Those problems occurred because some people have fallen
victim to many of the government's policies," Farid said.

President Soeharto also suggested last week the establishment
of an "alert command center" to prevent or handle unrest. The
President said the new command could be given the authority to
investigate suspected agitators.

Some observers speculate the plan could pave the way for the
return of a security system similar to the Operational Command
for the Restoration of Security and Order, set up following
student-inspired demonstrations in 1974. The government disbanded
the command in September 1988 and replaced it with a less tough
National Stability Coordinating Body.

Amien said the planned alert command center should be
established only to handle specific problems, with its primary
function to prevent other riots from breaking out.

"It should not be authorized to question and arrest people,
jobs already given to the police," Amien said. (30/imn/amd)