Timely analysis of Indonesian affairs

Reformasi, Crisis and Change in Indonesia; Edited by Arief Budiman, Barbara Hatley and Damien Kingsbury; published by Monash Asia Institute, Melbourne, 1999; 402 pages; AU$24.95

MELBOURNE (JP): As a trading partner, Australia's interest in Indonesia has not only been limited to the country's ability to generate profit. Australia is also increasingly becoming a center for open and erudite fora on Indonesian affairs. The perspectives of these fora go beyond mere trade and pecuniary profitability, neither are the forms limited to seminars or conferences. An important book recently published by Monash Asia Institute is indeed a written form of an extensive and intensive forum on Indonesia.

Most of the chapters in Reformasi, Crisis and Change in Indonesia was prepared and written between two landmark events, Soeharto's resignation in May 1998 and Indonesia's first free and fair legislative elections in June 1999. The period itself was saturated with history, and it would have filled a thick volume for that reason alone. The fact that these chapters were written just before the June 7 elections makes them more interesting, for readers can gradually match the theories and predictions with events now unraveling before them.

Arief Budiman, Barbara Hatley and Damien Kingsbury have thus gathered and edited writings which explore the political, social and intellectual realms of events, that might, intentionally or inadvertently, shape the series of occurrence, separately as well as collectively.

In section one, which discusses the economic crisis, Mark McGillivray and Oliver Morrissey's chapter takes us several steps back to find the causes of the economic and financial meltdown in Indonesia. McGillivray and Morrissey question the World Bank's assertion that precrisis economic growth in Southeast Asia was a miracle, and offer arguments and figures to counter the assertion. As for lessons to be learned from the onset of the crisis, particularly in Indonesia, McGillivray and Morrissey point to over-borrowing, corruption and nepotism. Inevitably the bubble, built on debt and implicitly underwritten by the government, burst and the country was immediately overwhelmed by political and economic turmoil.

Adding to this dimension, Muhammad Chatib Basri says there was a need for a radical departure from the past, since democratic institutions for good governance, which were so far lacking, were essential for credible economic policies.

Section two discusses the events, predictions and actors of the political crisis, covering a vast area of historical movements and future challenges.

Here, Arief Budiman cautiously agreed with Francis Fukuyama's theory that democracy, despite backlashes, was inevitable for all countries. Budiman suggests Indonesia's crisis had was "an economic-cum-political crisis". He also describes the hole out of which the country must crawl. He says domestic and overseas investments are desperately needed, but to gain investors' confidence, a credible and legitimate government needs to be in place. Interestingly, at the time he wrote this, Budiman believed a fair general election would very likely end President Habibie's rule. We are obviously still witnessing history in the making.

Gerry van Klinken looks at ways of striking a democratic deal. He theorizes that ruling hard-liners could have offered opposition reformists a trade-off by promising their own reformation into a much more modest, accountable political force, and asking the reformists to share power until elections were held. The way van Klinken reads the situation, the Ciganjur statement indicated opposition reformists would be open to such a deal, but he doubts the inclination of radical oppositionists to accept it.

Ken Young reminds the reader of the complexity of the reform issue, and what the word means to different people. In brief, Young identifies three themes which in late-1998 underlaid the demands for reform. In political terms, the themes were the demand for greater democracy, honesty and accountability in public life, and policies which secured people's welfare. Young introduces some optimism in his chapter by saying that even if the reform movement was able to concentrate on core reforms that did not solve all problems instantly but succeeded in creating powerful obstacles for restorationists, the course of Indonesian democracy would be well on its way.

The likelihood for political change after Soeharto, the issue of military-civilian relations since May 1998 and how the Armed Forces fell from grace with the revelation of their involvement in the activities of vigilantes, are respectively explored in detail by Vedi Hadiz, Harold Crouch and David Bourchier.

The role of Islam is also elaborated on in Marcus Mietzner's chapter "Nationalism and Islamic Politics: Political Islam in the Post-Suharto Era", and Mohammad Fajrul Falaakh's "Islam and the Current Transition to Democracy in Indonesia". Edward Aspinall chronicles and analyzes student activism since 1967, Max Lane discusses mass politics and political change in Indonesia, and Th Sumartana writes about the endeavor to build cooperation between religious groups in a time of national crisis.

Section three not only jolts the reader's mind, but also reaches the heart. The anger, fear and bewilderment it invokes are mixed with amusement and a sense of loss. Barbara Hatley recounts events relating to cultural expression and social transformation, allowing the reader can see a story of bravery and persistent creativity in the face of the state's organized repression.

This is reinforced by Halim HD's chapter on arts networks and the struggle for democratization. The most thought-provoking and emotional piece in this section is Ariel Heryanto's chapter, "Rape, Race and Reporting". Rita Kolibonso is particularly enlightening as she discusses the perspective and roles of women in the country's democratization process, which is extremely important despite the fact that the problem of violence against women had long been denied and pushed to the background by various authorities. Of particular concern also is the enormous need for law reform, as detailed by T. Mulya Lubis, Mas Achmad Santosa and Tim Lindsey.

Reformasi, Crisis and Change in Indonesia is not only worth reading, it should be recommended reading for everyone who cares about what is happening in Indonesia.

-- Dewi Anggraeni