The elite blamed for cynicism

JAKARTA (JP): The majority of the Indonesian people have grown cynical to the values of nationalism, chiefly because of the behavior and attitude of the elite, according to Minister of Defense and Security Edi Sudradjat.

In an unusually hard-hitting speech, Edi said in Yogyakarta yesterday that most violations of the law have been committed by people at the top of society, the very group that is expected to set an example and provide leadership in a exceedingly paternalistic society like Indonesia.

"If we observe properly, criticism of (the state ideology) Pancasila are not leveled at its basic values, but at its practical values. This is because in normal conditions we have failed to observe those values that we should be upholding," he was quoted by the Antara news agency as saying.

The retired general gave the opening address at a two-day discussion on nationalism, organized by Taman Siswa, one of Indonesia's oldest educational institutions in Yogyakarta.

Some 200 people, ranging from intellectuals to politicians, are participating in the meeting which will also be addressed by other senior government officials.

Edi cited corruption, poor leadership and officials' insistence on being served by the public instead of serving them as examples of the violations and irregularities committed by the elite. He said this is found everywhere in Indonesia.

These violations and irregularities, he added, appear to have even been accepted as normal by some segments of society.

"Although these violations may not be widespread, as they are limited to only the Indonesian elite, the end result is that people become cynical towards those who are running the nation," he said.

Such cynicism could also cause people to become indifferent towards the national ideology, and this in turn would open the way for the intrusion of foreign values, he reasoned.

"The violations found in cities, while considered normal by some, are regarded as disgraceful acts by those who feel that they are wrong," Edi insisted.

The minister said that in a heterogeneous and paternalistic society like Indonesia, people still look for leadership and role-models, something that should be provided by the elite.

He described the elite group as the "lighthouse" by which the rest of society steers.

The difficulty with the current government's National Discipline Campaign is that discipline violations are being committed by those at the top of society, he said.

Edi also said that the progress and modernization that Indonesia has achieved through national development programs has not been as widespread as many believe.

If observed properly, development has only led to the creation of several "oases" in society, he said.

"So we now have an economic oasis, a science-technology oasis, and an industrial oasis. Even the modernization process that is currently taking place has created an oasis in the middle of a chiefly traditional society," he said.

Bearing this in mind, the chief national agenda should be to ensure greater equality in society by eliminating these oases.

This, he said, could be achieved by creating a society that is highly disciplined, upholds a work ethic and has a strong sense of nationalism. "The attitude and behavior of the elite people is crucial to the realization of national goals," Edi said. (emb)