Still along way to go to civil society: Lecturer

Still along way to go to civil society: Lecturer

JAKARTA (JP): Economic crisis has prompted the establishment
of professional organizations but whether or not they will help
spurred civil society is questionable, says a university
lecturer.

"The mock up drawing of a civil society is there but whether
it will eventually emerge is not certain yet," said A.
Prasetyantoko of Atma Jaya university in a book launching
discussion here Tuesday.

The discussion, held at the same university, launched two
books: Professionals Versus the New Order Regime, by
Prasetyantoko and Anti-violence Politics Post 1999 Elections by
Emanuel Subangun.

Prasetyantoko said numerous organizations had sprouted up
after president Soeharto fell from grace last year like
Professional Society for Democracy (MPD), Professional Solidarity
for Reformation (SPUR), Jakarta University Graduates Movement
(GSJ), Thursday Night Club and Indonesian Professional Alliance
(APPI).

These professional groupings, he said, had two basic problems,
one weak organization fundamentals and second their relatively
less populist character due to its overly individual
characteristics.

He said these organizations came to the fore due to similar
traits of their members such as higher education, familiarity to
information technology and their activist background during their
student days.

These common background, he said, coupled with the economic
crisis, the declining process of the New Order government and the
emergence of people power were crucial factors behind the birth
of the organizations.

The agony behind this phenomenon is the non-existence of an
independent middle-class in Indonesia, he said.

Prasetyantoko cited the extremely long period of Dutch
colonialization in Indonesia as one reason. The other being the
far too fast process of industrialization in a vastly
authoritarian government.

The two main pillars of democracy: the press and the
university are the "extra-state" forces which somehow managed to
keep a distance with the culture dictated by the state, he said.

The ideal picture, Prasetyantoko said, would be to see these
two pillars being supported by the professionals, businessmen,
and investors who champion ethical norms and who possess
bargaining power vis a vis the government through their
respective organizations.

He said the New Order possessed characteristics like,
militarism which employed terror to achieve stability, hegemony
over all elements of the society, and patron-client approach
where private sectors subsidize the power.

In this condition market-driven economy could not perform and
initiate an artificial capitalism. In a crisis, the above
characteristic would aggravate the situation.

"And worse, the reformation is executed by uncredible and
illegitimate government," he said.

Emmanuel Subangun said that the students' role in the era of
reform faced three challenges: their ability to think,
participate in organization, and see the "intangible" things.

The tangible things, like civilian security, anti-riot troops,
weapons, he said, were relatively more simple than the unseen.

The intangible things were the result of long time struggle
between democracy and the political elite which started from the
1960s when the New Order began their rule up to Soeharto's
downfall.

Only by having a good grasp these complex process will the
students with their battle against the status quo forces, he
said. (06)