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)