Wimar believes nation will see more political freedom
Wimar believes nation will see more political freedom
JAKARTA (JP): Wimar Witoelar may not be as popular as Larry King or Oprah Winfrey, but he is one of the best known talk-show hosts in Indonesia. Four months after his Perspektif talk show on SCTV was banned last September, Wimar is back by public demand on Radio M97 FM. Several newspapers will begin carrying transcripts of his new program this Sunday and cassette recordings will also be made available.
The first guest on Wimar's new program called Perspektif Baru (New Perspective) was noted economist Dr. Sjahrir. The first half of the program was aired Wednesday Jan. 24 at 5.p.m. and the second part yesterday at the same time.
Wimar, born in 1945, was a student activist during his years at the prestigious Bandung Institute of Technology. He dropped out in 1970 and went to study in the United States. He returned home after getting his MBA from George Washington University in 1975. He is now the chairman of the PT InterMatrix Bina Indonesia Management Consultant company.
He made his debut as a talk show host early in 1994. He was last seen on his show with guest Mochtar Lubis, a veteran journalist and writer. Following the banning of the program, SCTV dropped his previously recorded shows featuring judge Benjamin Mangkoedilaga, who ruled against the government in the controversial Tempo case, and Abdurrachman Wahid, the outspoken leader of Nahdlatul Ulama, the largest Moslem organization in the country.
In a change of roles, Wimar spoke to The Jakarta Post last Thursday about democracy, freedom of the press and a variety of his favorite topics.
Question: Do you think freedom of the press exists here in Indonesia?
Answer: Freedom of the press is abused. For example, there are newspapers which make groundless reports. They don't do readers any good, yet I don't think they should be banned. Media publications should be free, but should also be subject to litigation. If they are wrong, they should be taken to court. Action should be taken after the facts. I think there are many more people with good ideas than bad. So please give them the freedom to express themselves.
Q: That is what should happen, but isn't reality different?
A: We are moving in the ideal direction, but the speed is not constant.
Q: Meaning?
A: The speed is not constant because of the resistance to change. People who want to maintain the status quo are not interested in reform and their existence has much to do with the unbalanced condition. Power in this country is based on yesterday and today, instead of tomorrow. They don't care about democracy, therefore their survival instinct tells them to curb the freedom of speech.
Q: If they continue to restrict freedoms, do you think there could be an explosion?
A: Historically, the strength of democracy must win, whether fast or slow. Much depends on a communication that is open and able to reveal social diseases. Without communication, there will be suspicion, which will lead to censorship. That's why some people have not been allowed to talk, and why some publications have been banned. The authorities think the country will be ruined if people are allowed to talk. But people would not necessarily say bad things. For instance, had Tempo not been banned, it would still be reporting the way it used to, which was beneficial to the country and not destabilizing.
Q: Are you saying that they worry too much?
A: Right. Those in power create horrible scenarios not only about the country, but about themselves. They want to be safe. In the short term, they feel safe if no one speaks freely. But in the long run people will suffer. They probably don't think about the future, which is the difference between politicians and statesmen. Politicians think about today, while statesmen think about tomorrow. In Indonesia, there are no statesmen in power.
Q: Isn't it possible to combine the two -- to have statesmanship and be in power?
A: That's what we want. But the reality is different. If you think I am exaggerating, please show me a statesman with access to power. I can easily talk about democracy because I am not in power. But people in power that are also democratic are rare. At the beginning of the New Order in the mid-1960s we had many. But now they have become spoiled and do not care about democracy anymore.
What they do not realize is that the present is much different from 20 years ago. Both living standards and intelligence are higher. And the economy has also changed a lot. We can't maintain economic development without democracy. Today, people associate Indonesian economics with market economics, which is controlled by financial, money and capital markets, which are transparent and free. If investors in the Jakarta stock exchange worry, they will withdraw their money, just like what happened in Mexico. Thus we have to be more democratic.
Q: Earlier in this interview you mentioned social diseases. What are they?
A: Suspicion, ambivalence and the interests of certain groups. There is a long list of social diseases, but those are the top three.
Avoiding the problems will only make them worse. For example, people say poverty is natural instead of admitting that it is a product of the government. In fact, it is clear that it (poverty) can be controlled by the government with its policies on development, taxation, infrastructure and regional autonomy. Poverty is a product of the government -- just like development is a product of the government.
Access is given to certain groups based on special interests such as religion, social strata and education. Intellectuals are separated from non-intellectuals. That is useless for nation building.
Corruption is interpreted as a trifle violation, but dissidence and restlessness are interpreted as subversion. Those in power simply aren't willing to communicate.
Q: How bad are these diseases?
A: Very bad, but there is a remedy. I am optimistic about this. Let people talk, because in society and political institutions there is much intelligence and responsibility. The official political institutions Golkar, the Indonesian Democratic Party and the United Development Party are sociopolitical parties. The economy is managed by bankers, businesses and traders that don't care about the three parties, the Association of Indonesian Moslem Intellectuals (ICMI) or other organizations. Those who care are those who want to have a seat in power or those who have access to power.
If we talk about people, we don't necessarily talk about the millions of people out there. What if we just talk about professionals and urbanites who are not represented (in the political parties). They liked Perspektif, which did not have any restrictions. It was naked. There is a lot of social frustration out there because communication gets stuck.
Indonesia, despite itself, has a reservoir of citizens who are smart, responsible and interested in national stability. They are newspaper readers, intellectuals, taxi drivers, bus drivers, shop attendants. They know that there is injustice. They are afraid of the government, and they do not respect the government.
Indonesia is a strong, beautiful country. Political awareness is improving, but outside of the system, which is tightening. The good ones are kicked out of the system. They become a black hole, dangerous and willing to absorb anything. Or they're neutralized and done away with.
Q: You earlier said that the banning of any publication should be handled in court. How about the banning of your talk show? Why didn't you take it to court?
A: It was not banned. SCTV dropped the program because they were threatened by those in power, individuals. The TV station had every right to drop the show. If the station managers had sent me a letter banning the show, I would have sued them. But that's not the case. The TV station paid me. If a rich man buys paintings and then puts them in a warehouse, you can't do anything.
Today we are facing a much bigger enemy, which is the abuse of power. But corruptors can avoid the law, not to mention those who abuse their power.
Q: Do you believe in the law?
A: I used to distrust the law. But I started to believe in the law following some encouraging court decisions. The case of Perspektif was very sophisticated. It involved a godfather who is untouchable. It was an untraceable crime.
But let me make myself clear. I love Indonesia. It is a beautiful country. There are only a few people who are not pleasing and I believe that history will take them down. I don't have any intention to oppose anyone. On the other hand, there are many people concerned with politics. And I think my duty is to become a good cheerleader, so that those good people will not be hopeless. One day the dark cloud will be blown away by the summer wind. There will be liberation. (sim)