Criminal More (Formerly) Enjoy Democracy

Indonesia and Policies Lesson after Reformation 1998
Criminal More (Formerly) Enjoy Democracy

By: Wawan Kurniawan

"In politics, stupidity is not a handicap" (Napoleon Bonaparte)

Title above be a message title at a one Indonesia biggest newspaper daily, Kompas (01/12/05, yard g), meagrely pemodifikasian from author. Appear question: does true such? May be. Democracy opens opportunity to every strength to come up at public policies space. Not only that, democracy makes whoever, belong criminal, hold power and restrain government, sure on condition that if he gets belief and people choose it.

Quit of question, does he get that belief with money, charisma, media engineer, or to be parasite in certain policies party, if pocket voice nest as according to vote treshold, swing him be people deputy or executive leadership at some level. For criminal, insignificant its way, important the result. If anyway there law and rule, the willing to follow and obey only merely proforma merely.

Defect moral should load only operative outside policies arena. Only fulfilled by particles profan that overcrowd honest ones. machiavellisme necessity. True what said Benjamin Disraeli, "In politics there is no honor".

Our Young Democracy

Democracy in indonesia not democracy that find the finals form as in United America or English. Democracy history both of them has long tradition: tens even hundreds years. Word freedom and right there [are] in inauguration speech george washington in 30 Aprils 1789.

They have many experiences handles ekses democracy, one of them with brace legal authority. One of [the] example axis court that can reach out for white house. Case I Lewis Libby (vice president staff head Cheney) government important official example that can be fished by axis law. Meanwhile, indonesia court (only) can fish to who? you have known the answer.

From time observation, indonesia democracy stills young aged. democracy youthfullness implicates in disability overcomes horizontal conflict like ethnic conflict and religion (Fareed Zakaria, The Future of Freedom: Illiberal Democracy at Home and Abroad, 2004). Why does that thing can happen? In young democracy, easiest road to gets support (voice) with exploit resource policies shaped grudges primordial communities likes tribe, ethnic, regional, and religion. Sometimes, without pay even also, those grudges is spin-in the strongly with public emotional spirit and delegation willing indentity. Therefore, it is not strange, case Poso and Ambon still blaze in husk through years the long. International Religious Freedom Report 2005 that is made by US Department of State stills to register second that place name in sub title abuses of religious freedom (state.gov, 08/11/05).

In young democracy also operative doesn't brook difference. When one group be winner then hold power, operative policies attitude" sweep the board" ; prohibit to present it group other. Or, if not so, policies koersi be choice. With the result that, there two effects dependent: first, when appear opposition, existing extreme opposition with special typology: enemy must fall as soon as it pass manner everything. Fareed Zakaria describe that as situation that this does not have to happen, but often does. Second, faksionalisasi acute. This happen in one organization which is on initially visible solid. But, soliditas that leav at the post the destruction time. Particularly, after power cake very sweet that is in hand. Struggle between faction in one organization even also happen. Group makes group again, chip makes chip again. This phenomenon can be seen in several parpol and mass organization in indonesia.


One matter again, in young democracy, the idealism of Robert Dahl may there may not. Dahl (1999) in the book On Democracy idealize democracy can prevent power autocrat unrighteous and cruel, guarantee rights base citizen, protect people main importance, prepare to chance vast for selfdetermination, push human development, aim kesederajatan policies, promoting peace, emphasized moral responsibility, and produce welfare.

Is age democracy bring influence in progress or triumph a country? Yes. Eldest democracy at world richest nations at world (Michael McFaul, Democracy Promotion as a World Value, The Washington Quarterly, Winter 2004-2005). At that nations, democracy is assumed as value that influence patterned thinking and daily action, beside also as government system. For indonesia, we must admit democracy here still only as government system. Our democracy is (still)s democracy to fear society, not to free society.

Elite Democracy

At government system model and ideology whatevers, always there influential person nest that is called elite. At communist country, elite communist party daily boards. At monarchy country, palace circle centre elite. In also democracy" admit" that, although more diaspora and also permit elite opposition.

In best democracy at world now, that is US, elite front neokonservatif that cover government official, right religious (Christian right), iindustrialist, and conservative intellectual. Daalder and Lindsay in book America Unbound: The Bush Revolution in Foreign Policy called that front as hegemons. James Man (2004) menamai they are as vulcan.

They are this is said as a group secret that take over country abroad wisdom strongest at world or a ideology group very little but use power bot quite the ticket to mix into axis connection with country other, make a kingdom and throw away international law (Economist, 26/04/03).

For indonesia society paternalis, elite be past feudal inheritance beside also protection need. People needs pattem as elite need legitimization. With a heavy heart, we must admit that a large part simple operative indonesia people, there are politican who there pattem that can give generosity gas oil, food and clothing sufficiency, job field space, housing ease, without necessary look at to who and how does that pattem. thereby criminals smile.

Then, where good people who and honest. They are alone. Eliminate to corner of live. They become patient at home ill. Such as those which said Horace Mann, "We go by the major vote, and if the majority are insane, the sane must go to the hospital."

(Sidoarjo, East Java, 27/12/05)

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Indonesia and Corruption (More) Acute

Indonesia and Corruption (More) Acute
by: Wawan Kurniawan

Transparency International Indonesia (TII) gives year-end present bitter to indonesian. After international accomplishment" honourable" that is sixth corrupt position from 159 countries, TII take aim deeper to internal institutions. The result, policies party is corrupt institution at this country is followed by parliament, police, customs, court, judiciary, and tax (Jawa Pos, 24/12/05). While in 2004, TII laid customs and court is first and second.

When comparated with TII report in the early year 2005 with subject same that laid customs, police, and TNI (Tentara Nasional Indonesia/Indonesia National Military) in position one, two, and three (Jawa Pos, 18/02/05), there new institutions that step into corruption arena and surprisingly (correcter said ironic) direct leading (lead).

TNI downs from top three. Necessary payed, economy social foundations that move be shelter TNI still to managed fund big enough. There guess corruption also happen at foundations.

Customs, court, and police stills to survive. Customs is one of [the] income centre (revenue center) government. Person traffic and goods is permanent source with big income.

Also hold rein monitoring smuggling. import luxurious car smuggling case some time then, they say involve officers police, pull public attention. And so it is with case oil ilegal. Latest, rice import case that being processed.

Report agreement result LPEM UI (Universitas Indonesia/Indonesia University) and World Bank mentions there corruption 7 milliards at customs, while TII declare there leakage 23 milliards. Bo wonder when does president imply repair in customs body.

Police as case investigator institution even be case producer institution. Begin from import luxurious car case, money miliaran in bill 15 top brass persons pati(high officer as general) by report Pusat Pelaporan dan Analisa Transaksi Keuangan (Reporting Centre and Finance Transaction Analysis) (Jawa Pos, 04/08/05), markup project radio network and communication development means as big as Rp 60,2 milliards (on report Blora Center), ship deliverance smuggler oil at Jawa Timur (East Java) in September, then up to bribe case BNI (Bank Nasional Indonesia/Indonesia National Bank) 46 that penetrated 1,3 triliun. Three pati essences is ascertained related to this government bank case.

Same thing happens at court and MA (Mahkamah Agung/Supreme Court). From case sales, judge deviation, up to mafia court that cover structural official also functional. Andi Andojo who come famous because his bravely to open court corruption case, ever say if suppose building walls MA can speak, they will testify about various" rot" in place MA that.

Parable pat water at belanga face splash self, corruption at police, court, and MAx more tarnish excpectation law enforment at this country. Why expect legal institutiion if those institutions monkey law as delicious as it.

New Player

For class realist, policies struggle to get power (Morgenthau, 1985: 27). Harold Lasswell (1936) said that with term "who gets to what, when, and how" (who gets what, when, and how). That mean party is tool gets power.

In word other, policies party principal function looks for and defend power (Ramlan Subakti, 1999: 116) although has function derivation likes articulation, agregate, socialization, recruitment, participation, guide, communication, and policies controller. And power, follow Soltau in dAn Introduction to Politics, the capacity to make one's will prevail over that of others, even against these others wills. Meanwhile, follow Alfred de Grazia in The Elements of Political Science, power is the control over disposition of valued things.

Based on two explanations about that power, perceivable that any function derivation parpol has only one estuary, that is exploitation. Because eksploitatif here's parpol be corruption source. Lord acton called that with expression" power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely" . If parpol corrupt, parliament as automatic the environment is corrupt.

Year 2005 be year punishment to all period legislative member 1999-2004. So they are finished hold a position, corruption whom they do forced open along that function time ending. They are malefactor at trial and final menetap at jail. Does same thing happen at year 2010 when does member DPR (Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat/National Representative) and DPRD (Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat Daerah/Regional Representative) period 2004-2009 finished the task time? i don't know.

Not yet counted also corruption at departement, BUMN (Badan Usaha Milik Negara/State Ownership Corporation), LSM (Lembaga Swadaya Masyarakat/NGO), and privat enterprise. Clear, corruption long has gnawed this nation at every layer. Corruption makes us more fall and weak. Corruption causess massif poverty (there around 40 million poor person), minimize natural resources, wane it state's stock exchange, the porous national security defense, high education cost, enlarge abroad debt, and strengthen dependence in foreign aid.

With honour taste, we have haved nation-take term Kwik Kian Gie (2003)-flipper that lose independence because corruption. Indonesia is banana republic.

(Sidoarjo, East Java, 25/12/05)

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