Scholars to launch democracy training agency

Scholars to launch democracy training agency

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

After two years of soul-searching, a Netherlands-based
institute is set to launch a democracy facilitator agency led by
leading academicians and professionals.

The Institute for Multiparty Democracy (IMD) will sponsor the
setting up of the Indonesian Community for Democracy (KID) on
Oct. 27, with the goal to train and educate young leaders in the
region, particularly at regental level.

KID will be based in Jakarta and will be spearheaded by a
nine-member steering committee, but, in three years, it will set
up similar committees in five regions, including North Sumatra,
Banten, East Java, South Sulawesi and East Nusa Tenggara. The
regions were picked up because of their respective distinct
characteristics, according to prominent sociologist Ignas Kleden,
who heads the national committee.

"The training in democracy will be institutionalized and
sustained in nature, with the final goal of educating and
implementing democracy," Ignas said here.

Ignas was accompanied by other committee members, including
vice chairman Daniel Sparingga, treasurer Tamrin Tomagola,
secretary-general Ratih Hardjono and members Kresnayana Yahya,
Qasim Mathar, Anita Lie and Ruhaini Dzuhayatin. Another member,
psychologist Supra Wimbarti was absent.

"The target of the training will be local democratic young
politicians, not government officials nor political party
members," said Tamrin Tamagola.

Ignas said, among the long-term goals of KID would be to help
the public strengthen civil society in line with the goals of
political parties, and to raise consciousness that democracy is a
form of interaction between political institutions, politicians,
the business community and the people.

Among the reasons cited for the launching of the agency was
good timing -- the country will have a new president soon -- and
the observable growth of civil society in many regions.

Sitting on the advisory board are prominent democracy figures,
including Rahman Tolleng, Asmara Nababan, Ichlasul Amal, Mohtar
Mas'oed, Azyumardi Azra, Arbi Sanit, Mochtar Pabottingi and
Soetandio Wignjosoebroto.

The nine steering-committee members were picked by the IMD
based on surveys throughout the regions. With the credential of
holding programs in democracy in 20 other countries, notably in
Africa and Latin America, the IMD will fund the Indonesia project
in the initial three-year period, Ignas said. KID will be the
first program of its kind in Southeast Asia.

North Sumatra was picked because it is a multi-ethnic region,
and is regarded as having a central role in Western Indonesia.
Likewise, South Sulawesi was picked because it is seen as holding
a central role in Eastern Indonesia. Banten was picked because it
is a new province that faces many challenges. East Java was
picked because it is the biggest province on Java island with the
highest rate of economic growth. East Nusa Tenggara was picked as
it represents a myriad of problems typical of those faced by the
country, but in microcosm.