ID :
172977
Mon, 04/04/2011 - 14:38
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/172977
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INDONESIA, TURKEY COULD LEAD DEMOCRACY IN MUSLIM WORLD
News Focus: INDONESIA, TURKEY COULD LEAD DEMOCRACY IN MUSLIM WORLD
By Dipo Alam
Jakarta, Apr 4 (ANTARA) - This upcoming 4-7 April, President Abdullah Gull will conduct a state visit to Indonesia reciprocating the President of Indonesia`s working visit to Turkey in July, 2010 to Ankara and Istanbul.
The state visits of the two leaders of Muslim majority countries hold a special meaning for the Muslim world, recalling that the two nations are known for fostering a national way of life that promotes democratic values while also retaining Islam values; such is the case where social progress has become pertinent especially now when we observe the waves of reforms and changes occurring in the Muslim world, specifically in the Arab and northern African region.
Both Indonesia and Turkey having successfully implemented the democratization process have also boasted significant economic progress despite the global shocks of an economic downturn worldwide.
Both Indonesia and Turkey are prominent members of the G20, the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC), and the Developing 8 Countries for Economic Cooperation. Both countries have been visited by the President of the United States of America, Hussein Barrack Obama which serves as testament that Islam and democracy need not be in conflict to one another.
Both Indonesia and Turkey promote a democracy that is borne by the desire of its people, not a political ideology trusted upon by developed economies through their military interventions and political pressures. While at the same time, we are witnessing events of major reforms in the Arab region and Northern Africa, with indisputable signs of foreign political and military intervention, such as was the case for Iraq and now more recently Libya.
With a political epicenter in Tunisia moving south to Egypt, this force for change has spread to several countries in the Middle East affecting Libya, Bahrain, Yemen, Jordan, Syria, Sudan and somewhat in Iran. In each country, calls for reform by the people are echoed in the streets demanding greater freedom and a true taste of democracy. In essence, the new generation of young Muslims, that generation immersed in information technology accessibility such as Facebook, Twitter, and the Internet are forced to see the other face of their current leaders; their leaders that are appointed in absent of a free and democratic elections, leaders that have a tendency to remain in power no matter the cost, and isolating their authority to a few cronies and members of families in the endless pursuit to accumulate the nations wealth.
While at the same time, these very same chronies tend to accumulate wealth at the expense of the the economic needs of the grassroots communities. Their need to retain power often blinds them and choke any potential for democratic reform in these Muslim countries, dismissing any chance for political and economic opportunity.
The writer, in 2006, had once visited the country of Tunisia and its capital. From the hotel where he stayed, he could see outside the window of the bustling streets of Habib Bourgiba Boulevard, watching the people laze around in cafe terraces for hours and often spending the entire day sitting unproductively. When asked by the writer, the hotel waiter surprisingly explained that those sitting were in fact intelligence officers of President Ben Ali, the current ruler, spying on his own people.
Another event the writer observed during his visit to Cairo, Egypt in 2008 was the reply of people that he met in the market when asked about President Husni Mubarak. They replied in a critical if not cynical manner, viewing their home country of Egypt overly dependent with the US and Israel.
Their eyes were absent of any pride and faith in their President Mubarak. So too was the case for Tunisia under President Ben Ali, its people were isolated from their leader instead what remained rampant was the absolute authoritarian ambiance that colored the streets and government activities dominating day to day life.
Indonesia, a Muslim dominated nation, and the largest concentration of Muslims worldwide experienced two absolute leaderships, under President Sukarno and also President Suharto. Both Presidents were toppled by the call of the people who were fed up of their leaders greed for lifelong power. In 1998, the people rose up and declared war against KKN: corruption, collusion and nepotism that had dominated the country for decades
Turkey on the other hand, was also wrought with politically military regime intervention causing an unhealthy democracy. Its political life and nationhood filled with multiple ethnics and multiple faiths -- similar to Indonesia, with a Muslim majority -- also suffered several coup de tat. Since 2004 however, Turkish genuine democracy was born and remains to this very day and continues to enjoy progress and expansion.
The essence of the experiences of Indonesia and Turkey is that both countries dared to embark upon a journey of democracy, a democracy "made in by their own". It is the hope of this writer that both Indonesia and Turkey may foster cooperation with other Muslim countries to pioneer on a reform process and promote economic growth in the Muslim world. It`s is with a sincere hope that the working visit to Jakarta of President Abdullah Gull may establish a bilateral relation that may forge greater cooperation in the Muslim world in promoting genuine democracy that is in accordance with the wishes of its people and local culture, and not due to the influence of foreign interests.
Both Yudhoyono and Gull possess a leadership role in their respective regions and both may guide the Muslim world to enter a new era of democracy, dreamt upon by its people in the Arab, North African and Asian Region.
"Endonezya`ya Hosgeldiniz Cumhurbaskan"
Mr Dipo Alam was the former Secretary General of the D8 (2007-2009) headquartered in Istanbul. He is currently the Cabinet Secretary of the Republic of Indonesia. He speaks on a personal capacity.
(T.E002/A/A014)
By Dipo Alam
Jakarta, Apr 4 (ANTARA) - This upcoming 4-7 April, President Abdullah Gull will conduct a state visit to Indonesia reciprocating the President of Indonesia`s working visit to Turkey in July, 2010 to Ankara and Istanbul.
The state visits of the two leaders of Muslim majority countries hold a special meaning for the Muslim world, recalling that the two nations are known for fostering a national way of life that promotes democratic values while also retaining Islam values; such is the case where social progress has become pertinent especially now when we observe the waves of reforms and changes occurring in the Muslim world, specifically in the Arab and northern African region.
Both Indonesia and Turkey having successfully implemented the democratization process have also boasted significant economic progress despite the global shocks of an economic downturn worldwide.
Both Indonesia and Turkey are prominent members of the G20, the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC), and the Developing 8 Countries for Economic Cooperation. Both countries have been visited by the President of the United States of America, Hussein Barrack Obama which serves as testament that Islam and democracy need not be in conflict to one another.
Both Indonesia and Turkey promote a democracy that is borne by the desire of its people, not a political ideology trusted upon by developed economies through their military interventions and political pressures. While at the same time, we are witnessing events of major reforms in the Arab region and Northern Africa, with indisputable signs of foreign political and military intervention, such as was the case for Iraq and now more recently Libya.
With a political epicenter in Tunisia moving south to Egypt, this force for change has spread to several countries in the Middle East affecting Libya, Bahrain, Yemen, Jordan, Syria, Sudan and somewhat in Iran. In each country, calls for reform by the people are echoed in the streets demanding greater freedom and a true taste of democracy. In essence, the new generation of young Muslims, that generation immersed in information technology accessibility such as Facebook, Twitter, and the Internet are forced to see the other face of their current leaders; their leaders that are appointed in absent of a free and democratic elections, leaders that have a tendency to remain in power no matter the cost, and isolating their authority to a few cronies and members of families in the endless pursuit to accumulate the nations wealth.
While at the same time, these very same chronies tend to accumulate wealth at the expense of the the economic needs of the grassroots communities. Their need to retain power often blinds them and choke any potential for democratic reform in these Muslim countries, dismissing any chance for political and economic opportunity.
The writer, in 2006, had once visited the country of Tunisia and its capital. From the hotel where he stayed, he could see outside the window of the bustling streets of Habib Bourgiba Boulevard, watching the people laze around in cafe terraces for hours and often spending the entire day sitting unproductively. When asked by the writer, the hotel waiter surprisingly explained that those sitting were in fact intelligence officers of President Ben Ali, the current ruler, spying on his own people.
Another event the writer observed during his visit to Cairo, Egypt in 2008 was the reply of people that he met in the market when asked about President Husni Mubarak. They replied in a critical if not cynical manner, viewing their home country of Egypt overly dependent with the US and Israel.
Their eyes were absent of any pride and faith in their President Mubarak. So too was the case for Tunisia under President Ben Ali, its people were isolated from their leader instead what remained rampant was the absolute authoritarian ambiance that colored the streets and government activities dominating day to day life.
Indonesia, a Muslim dominated nation, and the largest concentration of Muslims worldwide experienced two absolute leaderships, under President Sukarno and also President Suharto. Both Presidents were toppled by the call of the people who were fed up of their leaders greed for lifelong power. In 1998, the people rose up and declared war against KKN: corruption, collusion and nepotism that had dominated the country for decades
Turkey on the other hand, was also wrought with politically military regime intervention causing an unhealthy democracy. Its political life and nationhood filled with multiple ethnics and multiple faiths -- similar to Indonesia, with a Muslim majority -- also suffered several coup de tat. Since 2004 however, Turkish genuine democracy was born and remains to this very day and continues to enjoy progress and expansion.
The essence of the experiences of Indonesia and Turkey is that both countries dared to embark upon a journey of democracy, a democracy "made in by their own". It is the hope of this writer that both Indonesia and Turkey may foster cooperation with other Muslim countries to pioneer on a reform process and promote economic growth in the Muslim world. It`s is with a sincere hope that the working visit to Jakarta of President Abdullah Gull may establish a bilateral relation that may forge greater cooperation in the Muslim world in promoting genuine democracy that is in accordance with the wishes of its people and local culture, and not due to the influence of foreign interests.
Both Yudhoyono and Gull possess a leadership role in their respective regions and both may guide the Muslim world to enter a new era of democracy, dreamt upon by its people in the Arab, North African and Asian Region.
"Endonezya`ya Hosgeldiniz Cumhurbaskan"
Mr Dipo Alam was the former Secretary General of the D8 (2007-2009) headquartered in Istanbul. He is currently the Cabinet Secretary of the Republic of Indonesia. He speaks on a personal capacity.
(T.E002/A/A014)
