Sharing India's experience

Sharing India's experience

By G.S. Edwin

JAKARTA (JP): Democracy is peoples' aristocracy. As is the
case with every aristocracy, it has its downside, which wrecked
Indonesia's brief association with democracy, soon after it
gained independence in 1945. Unfortunately, this downside seems
to be a possibility even today. But there is no alternative to
democracy, despite its imperfections and vulnerability.

The appeal and the natural yearning of mankind for democracy
make it a mighty brand equity. Undemocratic governments also hide
under its banner. The New Order government was one such pseudo
democracy.

Though it may sound jarring today, one must accept that
Soeharto's 32 years rule was not an unmixed blessing. He was
commended, particularly, by all the western democratic countries,
for achieving political stability and making Indonesia an
attractive destination for foreign investment. Indeed, the level
of economic achievement almost justified Deng Xiaoping's
observation, "we can't do without dictatorship. Only we must use
it when necessary"

So, to an outside observer it was actually the unchanging,
soul-numbing monotony of power that triggered the overthrow of
Soeharto in 1998.

Nevertheless, the epochal event, generated a tremendous
awakening, call it a political renaissance, if you will, bringing
forth volcanic ideas of 1945 vintage, since then dormant. They
are: Rulers must change periodically, otherwise, once entrenched
in power, they produce political apathy and only facilitate
servitude; Governance is moral before it is political; None
should plunge into politics to make his fortune.

The primal principle of democracy is the worth and dignity of
the individual. Justice is the basis of all societies.

Indonesia must now set up a new paradigm of public discourse
and conduct, responsibility and rectitude. Certain ground rules
should be observed --

First, democracy stands for equality; but carried too far as a
rhetoric, it would paralyze the polity and governance.

Second, the deadliest foe of democracy is liberty frenzied or
turning licentious. Clement Atlee, the Labor Prime Minister of
England and a great believer of democracy, who granted
independence to India, said in despair: "Democracy means
governing by discussion; but, it is only effective if you stop
people talking too much".

Third, all democratic governments are managed by the combined
wisdom and folly of the people, so expectations must be
realistic.

Fourth, in a pluralistic country like Indonesia, there should
be a conscious endeavor to diffuse political power and
responsibility widely and make the number of men engaged in
public affairs sufficiently large.

Maybe a road map for Indonesia is desirable to "put first
things first". India, perhaps, has some lessons for Indonesia,
given some similarities between the two countries.

India has a plethora of minority groups based on religion,
language, region, custom, tradition and race.

The Indian Constitution accommodates the bewildering plurality
by harmonizing the conflicting interests through an exhaustive
enumeration of the various inviolable rights of all Indians.

It also establishes a clear relationship between the
governments at the center and the states, and within a state,
between a state government and the villages administration.

No basic law defining the political structure can be static if
it is to serve a dynamic body politic. So India found it
necessary to appoint recently a Constitution Review Commission to
review the working of the Constitution and suggest
recommendations for change, aiming for better governance.

At this juncture, it would be appropriate for Indonesia to
appoint a constitution review commission. The 1945 Constitution
would need a revision because of the ease with which it was
subverted, meaning it probably lacks checks and balances.

Besides, a high-powered review commission going around the
country and inviting people to state their constitutional
expectations is bound to create a tremendous synergy at the
grass-root level.

It will certainly deepen faith in the Constitution and in the
determination of a constitutional rule to secure justice, liberty
and equality of opportunities for all.

Indonesia can also note that India has given, through its
Constitution, independence from the executive to many bodies, to
infuse confidence, strengthen democratic sentiment and create a
durable democratic bias.

There is among others the election commission, the
minority/human rights commission and the finance commission.
There is also specific guarantee of independence of the
judiciary.

In Indonesia, if and when a commission produces a revised
Constitution, the legislature and the People's Consultative
Assembly, may convert itself into a Constituent Assembly, to
deliberate over the various provisions in the new Constitution
and approve it, helping real democracy to take root.

Otherwise, there could be a political vacuum and a real
monster of a government can step in and masquerade as a
democracy, again.

It would be a great loss to the world, if Indonesia were to
falter for want of public spirited citizens, wise leaders,
enlightened statesmanship and a consensus on a grand vision.