Some things never change despite changes in regime

Prijono Tjiptoherijanto, Jakarta

An almost forgotten Javanese saying appeared recently in a newspaper article: Mikul dhuwur mendem jero (originally meaning to respect parents while they are alive and after their deaths).

It was for the first time popularized in the early 1970s, shortly after the changeover to the new regime took place. The Old Order had collapsed and was replaced by the New Order under president Soeharto. A lot of hopes were pinned on him, and there was public pressure to bring outgoing president Sukarno to trial.

In the view of most people in those days, Sukarno would have known everything about the abortive coup attempt by the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) at dawn on Oct. 1, 1965. For the sake of clarity, Sukarno needed to explain the actual incident to society, some members of which had fallen victim to or suffered the consequences of what became known as the Gestapu/PKI affair.

Such clarification was needed to prevent the major event, with its international overtones, from remaining a mystery. In reality, to this day the incident has never been clearly and unambiguously explained. It has remained a riddle.

President Soeharto responded to all the demands with a maxim, mikul dhuwur mendem jero, meaning he did not want things that could tarnish the accomplishments and reputation of the "great leader of the revolution" to be laid bare. Soeharto was prepared to cover up everything he knew for the sake of the public good. This attitude was strongly opposed, particularly by vocal figures, who believed that everything would be thoroughly settled if made known to the public. But Soeharto was determined. To him, it was not beneficial to open up old wounds. It would be better to move forward and avoid repeating the same errors. Consequently, the role of Sukarno in the affair, which at the time shocked the world, will never be fully uncovered, even by reliable analysts and historians wherever they may be.

The principle of mikul dhuwur mendem jero seems to be a teaching or philosophy of the Javanese that is strictly adhered to by those who feel the need to maintain the values of statesmanship while in power.

They will not cause embarrassment to others by exposing their faults, and are even willing to let themselves be subjected to ridicule and reproach for maintaining their stance. This becomes even more pronounced when the person being protected is considered as meriting respect. There are apparently many officials who still adhere to these sort of Javanese social values, even though they are often seen as outdated and out of line with the exigencies of reform.

During the rule of president Soeharto, the principle put down deep roots. It was this that resulted in the truth behind the extra-judicial executions of criminals, popularly known as the Petrus incidents, not being fully disclosed. Up to his dying day, Gen. L.B. Moerdani, the one assumed to have been behind the incidents, refused to speak about them. The motive behind such reticence is that it is though improper to reveal the truth if this would only cause "confusion" and disrupt the "tranquility" that had to be maintained at all times.

Many of the lofty ideals of Javanese culture are out of kilter with the modern demand in Indonesia for transparency in all aspects of life. No matter how strong the desire to demonstrate openness may be, however, there remain cultural demarcation lines that are still never crossed.

In this particular respect, the Japanese are capable of providing us with a good example. Despite Japan's modern and advanced economy, that nation continues to appreciate and uphold cultural values that have been in existence since the Meiji reform era. It is by holding on to its noble culture that Japan has avoided being swamped by the wave of Westernization.

The writer is a professor of human resources economics at the University of Indonesia. He recently resigned as secretary to the Vice President.