Survey defies assumption of a 'sick society'

JAKARTA (JP): A survey of residents in seven cities has found respondents are convinced theirs is a healthy society, despite the prolonged crisis.

"This contradicts widespread assumptions that ours has become a sick society," secretary-general of the Campaign for a Peaceful Indonesia Aslim Nurhasan said on Wednesday.

The interviewees were 1,413 people, mainly from the middle- class with monthly expenditures averaging Rp 800,000 to Rp 1.5 million.

The respondents live in Ujungpandang in South Sulawesi, Balikpapan in East Kalimantan, Bandung in West Java, Jakarta, Yogyakarta, Surabaya in East Java and Medan in North Sumatra.

In the survey conducted by the Resource Productivity Center research firm, 62.6 percent of respondents said they felt disturbed or worried in their daily activities.

Fifty one percent of respondents said economic recovery was the main precondition for restoring a feeling of peace. The presence of a legitimate leader was cited by 45.4 respondents, while only 1.1 percent mentioned "a security approach" as necessary for their well-being.

Political recovery was mentioned by only 8.7 of the respondents, who included students and professionals.

In response to a question asking which factors could reduce violence in the country, 1.9 percent of respondents answered "Faith in God" and 1.1 percent said "increased national unity".

"Wise military leadership" was stated by 13.5 percent of respondents; 24.4 percent mentioned "not prioritizing group interests; 36.4 percent wanted "a leader whom people will listen to"; 38.8 percent said the most important factor was that people should disregard rumors and 43.2 percent said reducing the economic gap would diminish violent acts.

Respondents were allowed to give more than one answer, bringing the total for each answer to more than 100 percent.

Aslim said after the survey presentation that the findings meant efforts of the group, which have included social campaigns for peace in the print media, "were on the right track".

If society was impaired, the approach would have been in vain, the director of the Tebar Tiga advertising firm said. He said the campaign aimed to gather public potential and spread the need for "persuasive communication" to deflect public confusion.

Some experts and officials have referred to a sick society or moral decadence as an explanation for the continued unrest.

"Peace and violence is not an issue of morals or a sick society," campaign organizers said.

The group comprises professionals in the advertising and production house businesses, including artist Dewi Yull, who are concerned with the crisis.

"We in the communication business aim to... spread persuasive communication... at least so that anyone affected (by the crisis) does not become more confused," Aslim said.

Concerns that the meaning of peace might be eroding in society led to the survey, Aslim said.

He said the findings would be discussed by experts next week in an aim to make further progress in the campaign for peace. (anr)