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.).