Why the increasing violence?

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.