Nawir Arsyad Akbar, Jakarta – The Interdisciplinary Intellectual Forum (FIAD), comprising professors, intellectuals, experts and activists, has delivered a manifesto expressing concerns over various problems in Indonesia.
The forum comprises several of the figures including Theddeus Prasetyono, Bivitri Susanti, Asfinawati, Premana Premadi, Okky Madasari, Manneke Budiman, Susi Dwi Harijanti, Ari Sujito, Wening Udasmoro, Usman Hamid and Sulistyowati Irianto.
In the manifesto, delivered at Taman Ismail Marzuki Arts Centre (TIM) in Jakarta on Thursday August 13, FIAD championed a just, democratic, sovereign and sustainable Indonesia.
"This manifesto views that Indonesia's renewal requires a long-term, interdisciplinary approach and cross-sectoral practices", FIAD said in an open statement on Thursday.
FIAD views that Indonesia's crisis is the consequence poor governance that has been developing for years. Therefore, the crisis requires an agenda of transformation that is gradual, targeted and consistent.
The grouping of intellectuals proposed three complementary horizons of change. The first phase focuses on saving state institutions and halting democratic retreat.
"The second phase is directed at institutional reform and building state capacity. The third phase is a transformation towards an Indonesia that fully implements the constitutional mandate and is capable of responding to the challenges of the 21st century", read the FIAD statement.
Stop the destruction of democracy and politics
The national transformation vision and agenda, FIAD said, will not be completed in a short time. Therefore, they suggest three time frames for national transformation.
The first is an urgent 12-month agenda, namely stopping the destruction of democracy and politics.
FIAD explained that the main priority is to stop state governance practices that contradict the constitutional mandate and restore public trust in public institutions.
"This agenda aims to create a foundation that will enable deeper reforms in the next phase. Nationally, the urgent agenda includes upholding the rule of law and civil supremacy", read the FIAD statement.
"Restoring the independence of key state institutions such as the Constitutional Court, the Supreme Court, the Judicial Commission, the General Elections Commission, the Corruption Eradication Commission, the Ombudsman, and various other independent state institutions, as well as reforming the Attorney General's Office and the National Police", they continued.
Furthermore, FIAD is pushing for the democratisation of the party system by opening up space for local political parties to participate in regional elections. FIAD is also pushing for the eradication of money politics in elections by requiring transparency in political financing and campaign funds.
In addition to this, FIAD is pushing for the restoration of credible measures against corruption, collusion and nepotism (KKN) starting with the restoration of the Corruption Eradication Commission's (KPK) autonomy.
"Ensuring the guarantee of civil liberties, the protection of all citizens, especially vulnerable groups, and the elimination of discrimination based on ethnicity, race, religion, age, disability and other vulnerabilities", read the FIAD statement.
"Upholding civil sovereignty by restoring the TNI (Indonesian Military) as an organ of defence and Polri (National Police) as an organ of security in accordance with the constitutional mandate, by revising the TNI Law and the Polri Law, eliminating [the TNI's] territorial commands, stopping the addition of TNI personnel, and limiting the involvement of TNI and Polri personnel in civilian positions", they continued.
Building state capacity
Following this, starting in the 13th month, FIAD presented a medium-term agenda focused on building state capacity.
FIAD explained that after the foundations of the rule of law and governance were restored, Indonesia needs to build state capacity to effectively and sustainably carry out its constitutional mandate.
This medium-term agenda included strengthening democracy through institutional reform, protecting people's constitutional rights, strengthening civil society and developing a just and equitable economy that supports the public interest.
Strengthen the agenda for preventing and eradicating corruption in the political sector, law enforcement, natural resources, and state revenue sectors.
In addition, FIAD is also pushing for reforms in the education, health, agrarian governance, energy and agriculture sectors.
Indonesia as a country envisioned by the Constitution
Following the 12-month and medium-term agendas, FIAD is pushing for a long-term agenda to realise an Indonesia as envisioned by reformasi – the political reform process that began in 1998.
The long-term transformation, FIAD explained, is aimed at realising Indonesia as a constitutional democracy that is advanced, just, competitive and sustainable.
FIAD views the constitution as envisioning Indonesia as a sovereign nation that upholds the res publica (public matters) as the foundation of community-based shared life, rational communication and collective agency, with the Constitution as an ethical compass.
Therefore, FIAD is present as an academic community with a moral and constitutional responsibility to provide independent, science-based views, uphold the truth and side with the public interest.
"This manifesto is not a partisan political document or a specific group, but rather Intellectual endeavour to return Indonesia's direction of development to its constitutional mandate by making science, democracy, social justice, welfare, and ecological sustainability the main foundations of state governance", read the FIAD statement.
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Manifesto Kaum Intelektual Demi Wujudkan Indonesia yang Dicita-citakan Konstitusi".]
