The people's wishes for a new Indonesia

JAKARTA (JP): Politicians talk a lot on the subject, but we are yet to hear a clear definition of what the new Indonesia means. In an effort to make a clean break with the past, Indonesians are calling the era a "new" something, just like the coining in 1966 of the term "New Order".

The Jakarta Post talks to people from all walks of life to hear their input on what a new Indonesia should be all about.

Hendardi, chairman of the Indonesian Legal Aid and Human Rights Association: Ideally, the new Indonesia will be an Indonesia based on democracy. When the supremacy of civilians is implemented, supremacy of the law will follow.

Indonesia in the New Order and even in this transitional period has been controlled by military forces. The military should perform its main task of defending the country from outside attack and be removed from the political arena.

Besides the removal of the military, constitutional reform which ensures public rights has to be undertaken to avoid any abuse by the authorities. Furthermore, the "floating mass" policy has to be terminated, allowing the public to enter organizations of their choice and enabling people to freely voice their political opinions through the organization.

With supremacy of the law, Indonesia can enter a new era, the new Indonesia. The law based on political interests has to be changed to protect the democratization process itself.

Hardjanto Salim, secretary of Ramayana Corporation: For me, the new Indonesia means more jobs for people, security for everyone and stability for the business community.

But what the business community really needs is a stable economy without the sharp fluctuation of the rupiah.

Everyone in the business circle is pinning their hopes on the new Indonesia. But hopes are all we have, we have yet to see real commitment.

I fear that Indonesians have short memories. Five years from now, will anyone in the government remember their commitment to establish a new Indonesia? They might return to their old habits and that would make the new Indonesia as meaningless as the New Order.

Umar Fahmi, acting director general of communicable disease control and environmental health at the Ministry of Health: The new Indonesia means a new unified state which grants full regional autonomy. Each region in the country has their own interests, so full autonomy would be the suitable form of a new Indonesia.

The new Indonesia should also uphold justice and equality among the people, there should be no more extreme economic disparity between the rich and the poor.

The new country should allow people to have more access to information. Developing a new model of education along with an improvement of moral integrity would also be important aspects of achieving a new Indonesia.

Personally, I believe we can achieve a new nation if everyone is willing to be patient.

Isti Santoso, an employee of the Ministry of Health: I do not understand the real meaning of the new Indonesia, but maybe it is the replacement of the old government and leaders with new ones.

I don't really care what the meaning of the new Indonesia is as long as everything gets better. I sincerely hope that the "new" thing does not end up being just more rhetoric from the new leaders.

From the meaning of the word, I believe that it will be better, just like a new dress is better than an old one.

Retno Widyowardhani, a 26-year-old high school teacher in Depok: I hope the new Indonesia will set a new pattern in our education system, especially in high school. I'm speaking about the relation between subjects that should be clear at each level. We don't have such a thing here.

I also think that it is suppose to mean that there will be no more student brawls or riots.

As a mother of a two-year-old son, I also hope my child can develop in a good neighborhood with other healthy children. I'm very concerned about the possibility of a lost generation here.

Mohamad Ariful Muntohar, 32, a ketoprak traditional food vendor in front of the Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital morgue: The new Indonesia means poor and common people can obtain their rights and no longer be treated unfairly by the government.

It means I can receive the full amount of my working capital loan as promised by the government, a percentage of which used to be cut and given to government officials' relatives and friends.

It means no more lies. The previous government pledged to enhance people's welfare, but all it did was deceive the people on a large scale.

My grandfather once said that he was lucky to have free education, although the country was then occupied by the Dutch military. He said he pitied children nowadays who have to pay for their education, books and pencils.

Wendy Samsumin, 25, a fashion buyer at a chain department store: The new Indonesia means that my work is easier and safer.

I don't take politics too seriously, as long as I can do my work and enjoy my life without too many worries, than everything is fine by me.

I also hope the new Indonesia can provide cheaper goods for all of us, especially for our basic needs.

Samuel Quiko, 61, resident of the old "Portuguese" area of Tugu in North Jakarta: The new Indonesia means that the rule of law is implemented. I've never experienced any benefits from respecting the law here. I mean people who try to follow the rule of the game will only face losses.

For instance, I think most people who are caught by traffic police for violating traffic signs choose to bribe the police instead of following the rules because there is no incentive for those who obey them.

Soentoro, inspector general at the Ministry of Forestry and Plantations: Law enforcement should be the priority in rebuilding a new democratic Indonesia focusing on public welfare. It is needed to uphold justice and ensure public freedom.

Legal institutions have failed to defend public interests in their investigation of malpractice cases, especially in the forest industry.

The country needs to rearrange the legal system and its apparatus to support and continually uphold law and order.

Former finance minister Fuad Bawazier: Whatever people may call the era, the current government's task is to correct the terrible mistakes made in the previous eras.

The nation's economy and political life were abused during more than the 30-year rule under former president Soeharto. The transitional government under former president B.J. Habibie in fact continued this tradition of abuse.

The current government needs to fix the ailing economy and quickly get out of the foreign debt trap inherited from previous eras.

The tremendous economic growth, which relied heavily on foreign debts, has also helped drag the country's economy to the point of collapse. The economic policies that favored big businesses at the expense of the much larger population of small and medium-sized businesses has proven to be a time bomb for the Indonesian economy.

Shinta Langka, 24, public relations manager at the Sahid Jaya Hotel: First, I think the government or whoever is in charge should uphold democratic values in its policies. I know that not all people's interests can be accommodated, but at least the policies could serve the majority of the people and also touch the lives of the minority.

I often hear the new Indonesia term from television talk shows. The shows are entertaining and at the same time provide some knowledge about politics to people, or shape our ideas about politics. However, I believe many of us also doubt whether there is any follow-up to those dialogs.

I believe the new Indonesia should mean the return of international trust in our country. This will substantially influence our economic movements. Because of the current political situation in the country, directly or indirectly our hotel occupancy rates drop.

All we want is stability -- politically and economically -- in our new Indonesia so that we can catch up on everything.

Doddi Amarudien, 42, company communication vice president PT Telkom, Bandung: The new Indonesia is an Indonesia which is able to enforce the existing laws. The supremacy of the law is a must for everybody. The new Indonesia must also give prosperity to the people and must be very religious so that the people can achieve an earthly and heavenly balance. The new Indonesia must be more respected by the international world.

There are cases where we cannot use credit cards abroad. There is continual negative news about Indonesia everywhere, including on commercial flights. This is a real disgrace for us. The new Indonesia must be able to exist with the vigorous global competition.

Ida Farida, 33, a Bandung-based housewife: The new Indonesia is a circumstance where education and prosperity for the people can be gained. Children can go to school without their parents' worrying about the fees. Families can afford to obtain proper medical treatment. The new Indonesia is a situation where the taxes are used for people's welfare, without being corrupted. It is a guarantee for people's security without riots and violence.

KH Abdurrahim Nur, 60, a Surabaya-based ulema: There won't be any new Indonesia if moral decadence continues and development remains focused on economic values rather than moral and ethical values. So what's the difference?

The new Indonesia is a condition where human rights are fully respected. Ethics must be above everything in the new Indonesia, unlike the Old and New Order regimes which put the economy and politics above everything. From this perspective, all government officials must be clean and the supremacy of the law must be upheld. I'm sure we will all be able to achieve this, moreover, our President is now a kyai (a Muslim elder).

Bambang Suyanto, 22, student activist at the Surabaya Institute of Technology: Does the new Indonesia exist? I am pessimistic that our nation is entering a new and more ideal era. The nation is on the brink of disintegration. Democracy develops without opposition. Law enforcement depends on politicians. The economy makes no progress, gali lobang tutup lobang (robbing Peter to pay Paul).

The new Indonesia will be born if our politicians are ready to win and ready to lose, with no grudges and no hard feelings among politicians. The new Indonesia will exist as a real fraternity within one nation. The new Indonesia we are dreaming about is being dictated by foreign people, through the IMF team, the Bank Bali team etc. We are losing our sovereignty.

Basir, 41, a small-scale tailor in Medan: The new Indonesia is a united Indonesia from Sabang to Merakue. We can't talk about East Timor any longer. Let bygones be bygones. The new Indonesia is an Indonesia with clean governance.

Afrida, 21, a midwife living in Medan: The new Indonesia is a country where job seekers easily get jobs, where there is no unemployment, and no collusive and nepotistic practices in recruiting new employees. If one gets a job, he or she is capable of performing the job. Corruption, collusion and nepotism have been rampant, even in the Ministry of Health.

Ircham Abdurrahman, 51, deputy speaker of the Central Java Legislative Council in Semarang: The new Indonesia is an Indonesia without discrimination. No one says I'm a Golkar person, or I'm a Javanese. We all say we are Indonesians. The new Indonesia is an Indonesia whose people are ready for global competition and ready to face (foreign) economic, ideological and technological maneuvers which may endanger the nation. The new Indonesia is an independent Indonesia which has a positive image among other nations.

Mukimin, 50, a telephone operator at the Central Java Legislative Council Office in Semarang: In the new Indonesia there are no communal or interreligious clashes. It is a united Indonesia without friction, without disintegration. A new Indonesia is a prosperous Indonesia without poverty, and where due rights are accorded to ordinary people.

Daeng Patta, 37, a worker living in Makassar: The new Indonesia is a peaceful Indonesia. There is no violence and no disintegration; every individual practices tolerance toward each other. Now Aceh reportedly wants freedom. I will be very sad if the country disintegrates. We pity the freedom fighters. I also want a new Indonesia which has a high employment rate, where staple foods are cheap and readily available and if its possible, where education is free.

Darwis, 31, a postgraduate student at Hasanuddin University, Makassar: The new Indonesia is an Indonesia which is legally, culturally, socially and economically new. The supremacy of the law must be respected. Everybody is democratic. The empowerment of middle and low-level economies must have priority. The new Indonesia is Indonesia with stronger traditional values which are able to screen foreign cultures. The most important thing for the new Indonesia is for Indonesia to be without corruption.

Supriyono, a parking attendant at the South Jakarta District Court: The new Indonesia means all people enjoy the fruits of development facilitated by the government. People should find it easy to get jobs, so that there will be no more unemployed people. I expect the new government to give more attention to the unemployed who have yet to obtain permanent jobs.

Pijor Siregar, a journalist with Suara Bangsa evening daily : Our nation needs a psychological overhaul to welcome the new Indonesia, especially because we have a mentality which is besmirched by corruption, collusion and nepotism. This mentality has become a culture in our society, and we should work hard to eradicate it; the culture has brought us into high-cost economy, and into a deterioration of ethics.

Poppy Dharsono, chairwoman of the Association of Indonesian Fashion Designers: A new Indonesia is a country where you can think freely and express your ideas freely, but of course without violating ethics and an individual's privacy.

A new Indonesia is a country which upholds the supremacy of the law.

But it will take time for the new Indonesia to come into being. If we can make it within five years, it would be swift.

Yongki Komaladi, a shoe designer/businessman: I've never heard of the term new Indonesia, but as a businessman, I want a country which is politically stable and safe. We should have better human resources so that we can produce better products with more local content to compete with products from other countries.

Tjuk Sudono, councilor from the National Mandate Party (PAN) faction: I'm a person who has an optimistic view on the new Indonesia. Supremacy of the law will be upheld gradually in line with a strengthening of civilian government and society.

As a Jakarta councilor, I think that the implementation of Law on Regional Autonomy and Law on Fiscal Balance between the central and regional administrations will bring improvements to the city.

The implementation of the laws will also lead to improvements in other regions in the country as part of the new Indonesia.

I'm sure that the big problems, such as the separatist movement in Aceh and Irian Jaya, can be solved by the new government.(team)