Threats to freedom of expression weaken democracy

Threats to freedom of expression weaken democracy

By Christopher Lingle

UBUD, Bali (JP): After years of suffering under autocratic
rule, Indonesia has taken its first important steps towards being
a modern democracy. As evident in the hearings on accusation of
corruption against the executive branch, the learning curve is
quite steep. It has proved easier to put into place the trappings
of a democratic regime than it has to operate as a democracy.

Some mistakes or backsliding might be expected. However,
Indonesians can be proud of its tenacious free press that can
provide the information for people to judge their leaders so they
can be better able to choose their joint destiny.

As it is, freedom of the press is one on the most important
cornerstones of a free country. Guarantees of freedom of
expression allow citizens to learn about mistakes of the mighty
and helps reveal corruption at any level.

This is truly a freedom that must be protected, even if large
sacrifices are required. Freedom of expression is the key to the
formation and operation of "civil society", those organizations
that provide citizens with the voice to moderate abuse of power.
These organizations include universities, the media, non
government organizations and other associations of free people
who wish to have their collective voices heard.

Unfortunately, an insidious and grave threat has recently been
raised that could seriously undermine freedom of expression.
Unfortunately, many of those elements of civil society have been
mute in the face of a truly menacing force.

In the past week, groups identified on the basis of their
"anti-communist" credentials, have threatened actions against
bookstores and publishers for handling literary works by
"leftist" authors. It is not exaggeration that this outrage
conjures up images of Nazis standing around flaming pyres of
books. Indeed, the Anti-Communist Coalition has done just that in
burning books by Karl Marx.

I have spent much of my academic career engaged in heated
debates with Marxists. However, my right to criticize them
depends upon communists and socialists being able to preach their
deeply flawed ideas. Their right to express their views must be
considered to be sacred even though history makes it evident that
their credo can be dangerous.

Besides the tens of million deaths during this century by
villains like Mao and Stalin, communists were involved the tragic
bloodbath during the 1960s in Indonesia.

Unfortunately, Gramedia, a major publisher which operates
bookstores all over Indonesia, has folded under pressure from
these forces. Worse, the Indonesian Publishers' Association has
not raised the alarm and denounced these terrorist threats. These
weak-kneed responses to thuggery and terrorism are very troubling
precedents.

Where is the outrage?! Threats of violence and other unlawful
acts should not be tolerated in a democratic community. All other
elements of civil society have a responsibility to denounce the
use of force to hamper freedom of expression.

While serving at a university in South Africa, I was attacked
by a group claiming to speak on behalf of the local Islamic
community for denouncing their actions to silence Salman Rushdie.
My sin was reminding them that their freedom to propagate their
faith depended upon Rushdie's freedom to offend them.

Similarly, one organization wherein I held membership debated
whether to ban me from attending their conference simply because
I was then a university professor in South Africa. It mattered
not to the supporters of the proposition that I was an American
citizen and on record as a vocal critic of apartheid.

The argument that won the day then is relevant now. People who
entrust their beliefs into foolish or flawed ideas should be
encouraged to voice them, not suppressed.

By airing ideas in a wide public forum, the implausibility of
defective ideals will become evident to all. Perhaps even to
their proponents! Don't shout them down; let them shout their
stupidity from the rooftops.

Only those people who are insecure about their own beliefs,
like the Nazis and other thugs, try to use force to silence those
who ideas oppose theirs'. Unfortunately, the sort of actions
taken against Gramedia are not limited to Indonesia. Rightwing
Hindus in India have razed mosques and murdered Christians. Those
who would support the above Coalition's actions should remember
that intolerance can come back to haunt them.

It is ironic that these acts of terrorism against freedom of
expression took place during the week when World Press Freedom
Day was being celebrated. A bit of logical thinking should reveal
to all that a principled support for freedom of expression is
beneficial to all.

The writer is global strategist for eConoLytics.com
(CLINGLE@eConoLytics.com.).