'Scientists have a say in politics'
JAKARTA (JP): Should the various associations of scientists in Indonesia be allowed to comment on politics or on the way the country is being run? The answer, according to leading philosopher Franz Magnis Suseno, is a conditional yes.
Like any citizen, scientists in the country have a right to express their opinion on politics and affairs of the state and therefore their professional associations should also be permitted to make political statements when they see fit, Magnis said.
The German-born philosopher added, however, that a line must still be drawn.
"Certainly it doesn't make sense if an organization of experts on four-legged animals issues a statement on social conditions," he told The Jakarta Post.
"An organization of scientists in a specific branch of sciences should not make a statement on the general political condition," he said. "Organizations of professionals which are more open in nature, such as organizations of intellectuals, can issue statements on political situations."
The question of scientists making political statements was raised this month by Parangtopo, the chairman of the Indonesian Association of Physicists.
Parangtopo criticized some scientists' organizations for devoting too much of their time and resources to political matters, instead of doing more "real work" in accordance with their professions.
Wrong
Magnis said he did not see anything wrong with organizations of intellectuals that are open to all branches of science making political statements. He cited the case of the powerful Association of Indonesian Moslem Intellectuals (ICMI) as an example.
Such organizations however should not make "narrow statements" by declaring their support for certain political groups, he said.
The uniqueness of an organization of intellectuals, he said, lies in the fact that the members should have "intellectual openness" and that its members come from different scientific backgrounds.
"So it's just natural if the members wish to express their concern or make statements regarding the running of the country."
Soefjan Tsauri, the chairman of the Indonesian Institute of Sciences, also defended their right to make political statements.
If these organizations make statements, they should be seen as a reflection of their concern for the country, Soefjan was quoted by the Antara news agency as saying.
"As citizens anybody may issue political statements as a manifestation of their concern for their nation and their country," he said.
It is reasonable for the Association of Indonesian Economists (ISEI), for instance, to issue political statements in relation to their scientific discipline. "It's okay for them to..speak about foreign debt," Soefjan said.
"What's important...is not who speaks, but the content of their political statements," Soefjan said.
Chairman of the Communication Forum for Scientific Professional Organizations Kartono Mohamad agreed that organizations like ISEI are justified in making political statements.
At the same time, he agreed with Parangtopo that the performance of the country's scientific organizations is still below par because of various constraints, including shortages of funding. "It's like they're dying, " said Kartono. (swe)