'Scientists have a say in politics'

'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)