Why the increasing violence?

By J.Soedjati Djiwandono

JAKARTA (JP): Violence has beset the nation's political life for the past year beginning with the July 27, 1996, "Gray Saturday", when the Indonesian Democratic Party's (PDI) headquarters were wrested out of the hands of one faction by the government-backed Surjadi faction.

This was followed by sporadic riots in the capital and throughout Indonesia. But right to the last day and to an unprecedented degree, this year's election campaign was particularly marked by increasing violence. This has resulted in the loss of many lives and the destruction of many churches, schools, banks, shops and other properties.

The nation is definitely going through a serious political crisis. And it seems to be a crisis of leadership. From the point of view of the government, it is a crisis of authority. There seems to be no leader of national stature that commands popular respect and can reassure the people, whose words and pronouncements are heeded.

In part, this may be an indication of a lack of unity among the nation's leadership, particularly the military leadership. Of late they have been making contradictory statements among themselves, making denials, explaining things away and uttering threats that are seldom implemented in a firm, just, and consistent manner.

From the point of view of the general public, it is a crisis of confidence. It seems hard to trust the government any more. The public are not always sure if the leaders are telling the truth or lies, or if they really know the difference.

But what on earth accounts for the widespread violence? Obviously, there is widespread dissatisfaction with the government and its performance. There has been a wide gap between the leaders' words and deeds.

Injustice, corruption, collusion, nepotism, and other forms of abuse and manipulation of power are rampant. But to be critical of the government and its policies, which was banned during the campaign period, one runs the risk of being labeled against the constitution and the state ideology; against the New Order; of being communist-influenced if not crypto-communist; of being subversive or rebellious and planning to topple the government; and worst of all, insulting the head of state.

Meanwhile, the government's power appears so formidable that to directly confront it would be futile. Hence the pent-up feelings of frustration and helplessness among people desperately in search of an outlet.

And incidents such as last year's July 27 riot and the election campaign activities, despite the more severe restrictions, seem to have provided ample opportunity for the frustrated to let off steam.

Under these conditions many of the smaller, weaker and generally defenseless community groups, particularly in racial, ethnic and religious terms, that few, if any, even among those in power, would dare or care to protect and defend, are often victimized.

And under the spell of mass psychology, people seem to easily revert to their basic elements, imbued with inexplicable prejudice, even hatred, envy, jealousy and perhaps personal vendetta.

What is to be done? In the long run, political reform is clearly an absolute necessity. The increasing tendency toward the power abuses that result in growing injustice points to the fact that the political system is not functioning fully and properly, if it is not downright manipulated.

But one would be hard put to think of a remedy in the short run. Firm and consistent leadership, upholding and enforcing the rule of law on the basis of justice, and commitment on the part of leaders to meeting the increasing demand for change toward greater freedom, democracy and justice, may be the initial answer.

The writer is a member of the Board of Directors at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Jakarta.