Unifying interethnic community

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.