Kompas - February 6,
2012
Yohan Wahyu
– Most of the recent social upheavals have been triggered by a decline in
public trust in the state. Public pessimism towards the government's
performance has stimulated the emergence of several mass movements, from
solidarity actions through to the social media and mass blockades.
This public mistrust in the
state was revealed in a Kompas survey conducted in 12 major Indonesian
cities. Eight out of 10 respondents agreed that the performance of the states
three principle institutions -- the executive, legislative and judicial wings
of government -- were dissatisfactory.
Specifically, the majority
of respondents in this survey expressed dissatisfaction with the government's
performance on four issues. First, the government is seen as lacking in
resolving land disputes. Second, although the state depends for its income on
the production process and export of commodities produced by workers, the
government has failed to resolve labour disputes.
The survey results also
indicated that the public believes the government is unable to guarantee the rights
or freedom of worship of minority groups. The Fourth problem that was revealed
relates to the government's lack of seriousness in resolving cases of
corruption that involve officials from the three state institutions.
The most concrete form of
the public's loss of trust in the state is the view that there are no state
institutions that are currently able to carry out their functions. Four out of
10 respondents believe there is not one state institution that is able to carry
out its functions and duties in accordance with public expectations.
Mass movements
US sociologist Herbert
Blumer notes that mass movements that emerge in society have to be understood
as a collective effort to build something new, that is to create change. In the
context of a society that has almost entirely lost is trust in those who run
the country, the emergence of various types of mass movements is something
unavoidable.
The survey also examined
the basic reasons that have triggered the burgeoning of mass movements of late.
In relation to the performance of the executive, eight out of 10 respondents
cited the many regulations and laws that do not side with the ordinary people
along with deadlocks in dialogue between the government and the people as
triggering mass movements. The mass movement that emerged in Bima, West Nusa
Tenggara, is particularly relevant as an example of this.
A mining license was issued
by the Bima regional government and given to a mining company resulting in the
forced eviction and loss of livelihoods for communities living in the vicinity
of the mine. Efforts by local communities to pressure the Bima government to
revoke the license went unheeded. As a consequence, local communities were
forced to form a mass movement to fight for their interests.
The other reason is related
to the performance of the legislative that is seen as weak in articulating the
wishes of the ordinary people who have no access to power. Instead of fighting
for the interests of the little people, the House of Representatives (DPR) and
the Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) often collude with the owners of
companies or officials in the state bureaucracy. This view was articulated by
almost all or 88.9 percent of respondents.
This was also the case for
respondent's perceptions of the law, with as many as 91 percent stating that
weak law enforcement has resulted in society tending to seek forms of mass
justice in order to press for their interests. News reports carried by Kompas
showing that in one day as many as three police officers are attacked and
assaulted by mobs is one worrying illustration of the level of public anger
over the police's performance.
Social media
Three types of mass
movements that the public believes often rise to the surface are actions
garnering support though the social media, protest actions by different social
groups and movements involving blockades or occupations of an area. Public
opinion with regard to these three types of mass movements is quite varied.
Seven out of 10 respondents
in this survey agreed with actions garnering support through the mass media
such as Facebook or Twitter. Only 38.2 percent of respondents agree with
protest actions or demonstrations. An even lower proportion (15 percent) of
respondents supports actions involving occupations or blockades of an area.
A number of things can be
concluded from this. The relatively high proportion of respondents that chose
the social media as a mass movement is linked to the issue of access to
technology where the urban middle-class represents the largest number of social
media users. Cases that have succeeded in garnering support through the social
media have been closely linked with the interests of this group.
Protest actions and
occupations meanwhile have two dimensions. On the one hand, for the protesters
or parties that carry out occupations, this form of protest is the last resort
after other means have been exhausted but failed to bear fruit. The toll road
blockade by workers in Bekasi represents a strategic option they were forced to
pursue in the face of "cooperation" between business and state
institutions.
On the other hand,
blockades are seen as causing both economic and social losses for other groups
in society. In such cases the method chosen by the state to resolve these is
often repressive. The Bima case demonstrates this problem. As a consequence,
public opinion is influenced into seeing the consequence of occupation actions
as not addressing the roots of the problem that cause the emergence of the
action itself.
Nevertheless, a small ray
of hope is remains fixed in the public's minds. One out of three respondents
stated that there are still social figures who can be trusted and are capable
of becoming leaders that society can follow. Of course an important proviso
from the public is that such a figure must first and foremost have a high level
of integrity and never have been ensnared in a legal case (Kompas Research and
Development)
[Jajak
Pendapat: Ketidakpercayaan pada Negara - Sabtu, 11 Februari 2012.
Translated by James Balowski.]
