Under the Dutch colonial, the Dutch (white skin) become the political, economic and social elites in the colonial society, while middle class consisted of far east people (Chinese, Arab, India, etc), and bumiputera (indigenous Muslim) people laying in lower layer functioning producer of natural resources or traditional (feodal) elite. Dutch elites (top local officials, such as resident), Chinese elite (officer), and traditional elite (regents) are "Top Branch" of colonial society. The structure has been continuing in the era of Soekarno’s Old Order and Soeharto’s New Order. And under the New Order, the political practices of minority have serious social-political implications related to negative image that always inherent in Tionghoa (Chinese) people of Indonesia. The Indonesian Chinese (Tionghoa) often be assumed as source of various problems, simply could be ‘scapegoat’, if there are riots, economic crisis and racialism. Under the New Order, the Indonesian Chinese remain to treated as the others, the marginalized people. In the post Soeharto’s New Order 1998, however, the Chinese have been awakening gradually to join political parties and social organizations to take part in democratization and governance, even most of the Chinese conglomerates (taipan) has been the richest in Indonesia.
Southeast Asia captivates Al Qaeda (Saudi Arabia/Middle East) to enter this region because Osama Bin Laden knows that Southeast Asia is the second priority of the US in fighting international terrorism. Southeast Asia is also referred to as "home" for terrorist groups or movements such as Jemaah Islamiah (JI), Abu Sayyaf and the Mujahideen Malaysia Group (KKM)) which were allegedly involved in the WTC case. Regardless of whether or not the involvement of "radical Islamic" groups was involved with ‘’the September 11(9/11)’’ case, which clearly has changed US relations with Southeast Asian countries. Meanwhile, the Islamic political movement, especially the political violence groups have increased and flourished in Indonesia since President Soeharto fell in 1998. Since the mid-1990s, a number of terrorist attacks have been planned in the Southeast Asia region, including attacks on church leaders (Pope), President Bill Clinton, and commercial aircraft. But these plans are not always successful, and all of the above factors, combined with the arrest of several people from the Al-Qaeda network operating in Southeast Asia, are seen as a strong enough driving factor to carry out the terrorism attacks in this region. Al Qaeda succeeded in building networks, supporters and cells through regional extremist movements affiliated with it. According to Asean intelligent report, they received financial and weapons amounted to US$ hundred thousands from Al Qaeda on a scale that worried many people.
What happens with ‘’Reformasi’’ (the Reform Movement/ Era)? After tha fall of Soeharto’s New Order regime, Indonesia come into chaotic situation with many religious and ethnic conflicts. Separatism has erupted and corruption has been so rampant. The “door” of democracy opens, and both Islamists and nationalists take part in the political game. The results have been, however, transactional politics, bad governance and uncertainty. A question should be raiseed: is it irreconcilable between the nationalists and the islamists? What is happening when the political games are plyed by both parties is basically the competition of corruption. They are stealing “people resources and welth of the nation”. Islamists do the same as the nationalists stealing power (corruption). The business world is corrupted. Businessmen are in collusion with politicians, rulers, and bureaucrats. They do not care anymore about the fate of the people and the country.
Terrorism has been critical issues in Indonesia. Latest, Santoso, a frontman of terrorists based in Poso, central Sulawesi, can be terminated. His radical adventures in Poso and East Indonesia has inspired many youths to follow his bloody road in an effort to carry out holy war against the secular democracy in Indonesia. In pursuit Santoso, the battle between security forces and terrorists often happens in the field. Santoso group are part of the radical Islamist networks in Southeast Asia, and their imagined solidarity with the Middle East radical Islamists are relatively strong. So that the military help the police to combat terrorism in Indonesia.
Abstract:This article mainly concerned on the reflection of pluralism practice in the Indonesia context. Although, this issue is becoming a commitment for the government to implement it in the wider context of society, a number of challenges have been demonstrated in this research proving that pluralism is still a common problem in this country. The author illustrated a lot of cases in different areas which happened that threaten harmony and peace in the Indonesia life. This research discusses both pluralism and democracy as the two important entities which could not be separated. To some extent, most of the people here have not yet understood basically about significance and meaning of pluralism. So that the side effect of the misunderstanding, sociologically, sparks up social conflicts and issues of identity in the name of God, religion or other primordialism.
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