Unifying interethnic community

By Eka Wenats Wuryanta

JAKARTA (JP): What is happening to the spirit of "unity in diversity (Bhinneka Tunggal Ika)"? How will Indonesia's structure of pluralism be rebuilt after the recent racist riots?

To answer these critical questions, one must return to the original spirit of the nation's founding fathers, who were imbued with the spirit of freedom and liberation. Discrimination must be wiped out.

The system of national cohesiveness these founding fathers aspired for was based on independence and equality in the pursuit of dignity for all people.

Obviously, therefore, such discriminatory concepts such as master-slave relationships, over-emphasis on ethnic origins, gender and so forth are alien to the idea of justice.

Unfortunately, the meaning of the spirit of unity has been eroded by a lack of understanding of humanity.

The nation's cohesive system has shifted from basic justice to mere fulfillment of economic needs.

The socioeconomic system developed by the Old Order and the New Order administrations has blurred the differences between existing ethnic perspectives and hampered interethnic communication. It benefited a number of ethnic groups, and by so doing, inevitably put others at a disadvantage.

The social system developed during the New Order era changed the way in which people from different ethnic backgrounds communicated. Society developed away from equality toward a hierarchical structure. This unhealthy system for decades shaped the consciousness of the Indonesian people.

When the recent reform drive broke this up, a great mix of divergent viewpoints came to the surface. But a part of the community was not ready for differences. Their uncertainty in the face of the unknown pointed to the need for a basic recognition of these differences. They were confused about the real meaning of ethnic pluralism.

This confusion led to a breakdown in morality and communication, and has the potential to spark major conflicts, not less in magnitude than those in the former Yugoslavia and in Rwanda.

To understand why the assimilation process failed, we must review historical developments. It can be seen that when a community characterized by pluralism denies its own ethnic diversity, it becomes a self-destructive force, often to the disadvantage of minorities.

While efforts are being made to maintain national unity, the existing ethnic differences are not only ignored, but often held in disrespect.

This can be blamed on the erosion of the meaning of ethnic pluralism. We must change our national social structures, criticizing and rearranging them in order to generate the greatest benefit to us.

First, we must be aware of our differences. This awareness will lead to an attitude of respect and appreciation. It must serve as the focal point in education. It involves an understanding of the dignity and self-respect of every individual. The education system, including families, schools and the community, must teach this understanding of humanity.

This improves the relationships between teachers and students and between parents and children. This kind of education will alter the pattern of education now characterized by instructional patronage into one of participation.

Why is priority given to education? Education is where the forming of a national mentality begins for every individual. Children learn to communicate with others amid differences at school. Communication between different ethnic groups must thus be bolstered through the development of sound educational objectives.

The second paradigm is a social paradigm. This paradigm has as its assumption a good social intention on the part of the government as the executing agency of the state, the community and interethnic society (both indigenous and migrant) as the dwelling place for each individual and social system shaped over the years.

These three elements are at work in a synergy to create a "large home" which would be comfortable to live in and accommodative in terms of service provision.

The government should take a neutral position in all ethnic disputes. This would create a good environment for the assimilation process, involving all ethnic groups.

The interethnic community (the indigenous and the migrants) would have an open mind to stimulate the enhancement of their capacity for acculturation and would also consciously make an effort to facilitate the process of acculturation and assimilation.

Indonesia is a diverse country in many ways, and there are many complex issues involved in trying to stop ethnic conflicts. The uniting of Indonesia's many different cultures will be a drawn out process, one that will involve all the country's religious institutions. The mass media can help to speed up the process.

The writer is in the teaching staff of the Center for Ethical Development, Atma Jaya University, Jakarta

Window: While efforts are being made to maintain national unity, the existing ethnic differences are not only ignored, but often held in disrespect.