The Politics of Openness

Since the mid-1980s, political participation has been allowed to increase through the process of so-called politik keterbukaan (political openness). The growth of the economy and improvement in the level of education of the people have impacted on the government’s political attitude. One of the results of economic and educational development has been the increase in public political awareness over the last twenty years. Demands for more participation have also been strengthened by international pressure, related to foreign aid when donor countries look closely at a recipient country’s record of democratization, human rights and environmental protection.

Meanwhile, the academic community has been given more freedom to criticize the government. Academics are allowed to voice their opinions and criticism on government policies in the mass media, a freedom they did not enjoy in the previous decade. Intellectuals and students have formed themselves into various discussion groups and regularly give feedback to the government and the bureaucracy. The press also enjoys more freedom as can be seen in their relatively liberal selection, analysis, and presentation of articles.

The government’s attitude towards opposition groups has also changed significantly. An opposition group known as Petisi 50 which for more than a decade was barred from holding meetings, visiting foreign countries and even engaging in business activities, was given a chance to reconcile itself with the government. Minister of Research and Technology B.J. Habibie took the initiative in arranging a meeting between President Soeharto and the top leader of Petisi 50, Retired General A.H. Nasution in the presidential palace. Habibie also invited another leader of Petisi, Ali Sadikin (former Governor of Jakarta) together with other leading figures of the group to visit PT. PAL (a dockyard company, which is part of the “eight strategic industries” advocated and nurtured by Habibie) in Surabaya. This was the first invitation given to Petisi members by a high official, and though remaining critical of the government, their criticisms have not been as sharp as was previously the case.

However, some people still doubt the intention of the government to democratize because, according to them, the government is not nurturing the tree of democracy. Some even suspect that the government has adopted a double standard. They argue that, on the one hand, the government allows the public to criticize the government but, on the other, it still maintains many restrictions. It is widely believed that whenever the government feels that critics have gone too far it will use force to limit freedom. The term “rubber-band” policy (Jakarta Post, 2 June 1994; Alfian 1991) clearly describes this approach.

It should be remembered that some opposition leaders remain prohibited from organizing or taking part in seminars or meeting unless they secure permission from the police. Thus far, the opposition has not challenged this illiberal measure in court. Summoning government officials to court is considered useless because in most cases the government wins.

(Continued on title : "Press Freedom")