On 26 August, I spoke on a panel at the 5th Congress of the Buddhist Students Association. Some of its leaders are members of PAPERNAS.
About 400-450 people were at the session, mostly very young.
Below is a translation of newspaper report on the Congress in KOMPAS newspaper, the major dialy newsopaper in Jakarta. The report was on page 2. It is a very short version of the 4 20 minute speaches and 1 hr of discussion
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Struggling for Rights in a Self-Reliant Way
The poor must rise up.
jakarta, Kompas - The poor in this country must be able to rise up themselves, self-reliantly and demand their rights thatthe state guarantee their prosperity. This must be done as the government is no longer able to lead Indoensia to rise up.
This was the view presented by the Indonesianist from the University of Sydney, Australia, Max Lane in a discussion with the theme, "Self-reliant my nation - sovereign my country" organised as part of the 5th Congress of the Indoensian Buddhist Students Association. Other speakers were Franz Magnis-Suseno from the Driyarkara Higher Institute of Philosophy Jakarta, the economist Sri-Edi Swasono, and the labour activist Dita Indah Sari.
Accorrding to Lane, the poor will be only be able to riase uop under their own power if they can come into motion through their own organisations. Through haveing their own orgabnisatuions, they can exercise some control and surveillance over the government.
"This kind of vcontrol and surveillance is important, The poor, if they organise themselves, will be able to particiopatre in determining policies, especially how the resources of Indonesian are to be used." said Lane again.
Lane added that the young generation of intellectuals must be active in helping win this kind of self-reliance/abulity to stand on own feet. But, unfortuantely, the Indoensian education system doesn;t encourage that.
According to Lane, schools and universoties in Indonesia are allowed to be just secopnd or thrid class in Intyernational standards. This was a great puty, said Lane who is also also author of UNFINISHED NATION.
"In deed education in Australia is subsidied by millions of dollars from the Indoensian economy. This is a resultr of hundreds of thousands of Indonesians choose to pay for expensive education in Australia," said Lane.
On the other hand, Dita requested that the pemerintah not to view the various dissatisfactions in regions such as Papua and Aceh through the glasses of a romantic nationalism. This disconmtent was a result of the injustices cretaed by the government itself.
Dita also asked society, especially the young generation, not to be allergic to engaging in politics in order to fix the varuiouis problems and injustioces that are happening. Society can become involved in the process of policy making through politics.
"We must not choose to distance ourselves from politics which is honest, true and clean:, she said.
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Senin, 27 Agustus 2007
Perjuangkan Hak secara Mandiri Masyarakat Miskin Harus Bangkit
Jakarta, Kompas - Masyarakat miskin di negeri ini harus mampu bangkit secara mandiri dan memperjuangkan sekaligus menuntut hak mereka untuk disejahterakan oleh negara. Hal itu harus dilakukan jika pemerintah dinilai tak lagi mampu membawa Indonesia bangkit.
Demikian disampaikan pengamat Indonesia asal Universitas Sydney, Australia, Max Lane, Minggu (26/8), dalam diskusi bertema "Mandiri Bangsaku-Berdaulat Negeriku", yang diselenggarakan dalam Kongres V Himpunan Mahasiswa Buddhis Indonesia. Turut berbicara adalah Franz Magnis-Suseno dari Sekolah Tinggi Filsafat Driyarkara Jakarta, ahli ekonomi pembangunan Sri-Edi Swasono, dan aktivis buruh Dita Indah Sari.
Menurut Lane, kebangkitan masyarakat miskin secara mandiri baru bisa dilakukan saat mereka mampu menggerakkan diri dengan berorganisasi. Dengan jalan berorganisasi, warga miskin itu akan mampu mengawasi jalannya pemerintahan.
"Pengawasan seperti itu sangat penting. Masyarakat miskin diharapkan mampu mengorganisasi diri sehingga mereka dapat ikut terlibat dalam menentukan semua kebijakan, terutama soal akan dikemanakan atau diapakan kekayaan Indonesia ini," ujar Lane lagi.
Lane menambahkan, generasi muda intelektual Indonesia harus aktif membantu mewujudkan kemandirian seperti itu. Namun, sayangnya, sistem pendidikan di Indonesia sering kali masih belum bisa diharapkan mendukung upaya seperti itu.
Menurut Lane, sekolah dan universitas di Indonesia sengaja dibiarkan menjadi kelas dua atau kelas tiga dalam pendidikan dunia. Kondisi seperti itu disayangkan Lane, yang juga penulis buku berjudul Bangsa yang Belum Selesai (2006).
"Malah pendidikan di Australia yang banyak dibiayai miliaran dollar oleh perekonomian Indonesia. Hal itu karena ratusan ribu orang Indonesia yang mampu lebih memilih membayar sangat mahal untuk bersekolah atau berkuliah di Australia," ujar Lane.
Sebaliknya, Dita meminta pemerintah tidak melihat berbagai persoalan ketidakpuasan, yang terjadi di sejumlah daerah seperti Papua dan Aceh, sekadar melalui kacamata romantisisme nasionalisme. Hal itu muncul akibat ketidakadilan yang dibuat pemerintah sendiri selama ini.
Dita juga meminta masyarakat, terutama generasi muda, tak alergi menempuh jalur politik untuk melakukan pembenahan atas berbagai persoalan dan ketimpangan yang selama ini terjadi. Lewat jalur politik masyarakat dapat ikut melibatkan diri dalam proses pengambilan kebijakan.
"Jangan kita memilih menjauhi dunia politik yang benar, jujur, dan bersih," katanya. (DWA)