Unrest detrimental to democracy: Scholar
JAKARTA (JP): Further unrest could derail the development of democracy In Indonesia, a Moslem scholar said Saturday.
If the political situation in the country gets out of control, the government could take repressive measures to restore order, said Adi Sasono, the chairman of the Center for Information and Development Studies (CIDES).
"Then there will be no more channels for people to voice their criticism and aspirations," he told reporters during a reception to mark the center's fourth anniversary.
He cited political stability as vital to the process. "Political stability is the key to keeping up the momentum of democratization. We can only make necessary corrections to the government's policies if the political climate is stable."
CIDES is the think-tank wing of the influential Association of Indonesian Moslem Intellectuals (ICMI), which is chaired by State Minister of Research and Technology B.J. Habibie.
At the anniversary celebration on Saturday, Moslem scholar Dawam Rahardjo discussed Habibie's economic thoughts and visions.
Adi Sasono, the secretary-general of ICMI, said an ability to hold objective and honest discourses on critical state matters, including those considered taboo, is important to the growth of democracy.
"We shouldn't shy away from talking about the differences between pribumi and non-pribumi," he said.
The terms refer to indigenous and non-indigenous Indonesians; the latter usually describes Indonesians of Chinese-descent, a minority but economically powerful ethnic group in Indonesia.
Very often, discussion of economic disparity in Indonesia leads to the pribumi and non-pribumi issue. Adi said that the social and economic disparities between these two groups should be addressed and not dismissed. "Otherwise, the people will take the issue to the streets."
"In riots, it is the ordinary people who suffer the most. Those who have the capital will suffer little. They still have a large amount of reserve funds abroad," he said.
Two incidents in the past four months were particularly devastating for ordinary people, he said, referring to the riot in Situbondo, East Java, in October, and in Tasikmalaya, West Java, in December.
Responding to a question, Adi Sasono said ICMI supports democratization as a continuous process in Indonesia.
"Intellectuals have to act as a catalyst for political reform in Indonesia," he said.
Democracy is not God-given, he said. "People have to fight for it."
Adi denied suggestions that senior ICMI figures serving in the current cabinet had a mission to push ICMI's goals. He insisted that they were recruited on merit and not for their association with ICMI.
"It is not easy to be appointed minister. It requires skills and capability, and also a long history of dedication in one's career," he said. (imn)