Mesuji tragedy manifests banality of evil
Donny Syofyan, A LECTURER IN THE FACULTY OF CULTURAL SCIENCES OF ANDALAS UNIVERSITY, PADANG
Sumber : JAKARTA POST, 20 Desember 2011
We have been really shocked to witness killings in the Mesuji district, which straddles South Sumatra and Lampung provinces. Dozens of farmers from Mesuji, accompanied by retired military general Saurip Kadi, went to the House of Representatives last Wednesday and claimed that 30 farmers had been killed between 2009 and 2011 as part of attempts by palm oil and natural rubber plantation firm PT Silva Inhutani to evict them from their land.
The group also showed a video purporting to show several killings and the bodies. Six suspects, five plantation workers and a farmer, have been arrested for their alleged role in the violence.
Despite the questionable motive of the video maker and the locations of the mass killings, the Mesuji incident has inflicted damage on the very foundation of our humanity. Using the concept coined by Hannah Arendt, the Mesuji killings are a clear sign of the banality of evil. Certain groups of people, such as the security apparatus and vigilantes, kill other people and view their actions are normal.
The Mesuji tragedy reflects a growing cold-blooded society. Some people, like the police and hoodlums, have blinded their eyes and deadened their hearts by easily slaughtering fellow human beings. The real value of human beings has been reduced to certain benefits they produce, which are money and power. Killing the Mesuji villagers, therefore, is an excuse for their failure to make money and reinforce power for the sake of capital owners.
While forests are razed to the ground, farmers who rightfully own the land are now dispensable and live in makeshift tents, since their homes have allegedly been destroyed by the henchmen of a plantation company. These people would not act if there was no money and commands from those controlling the money. The buck stops where money trail starts.
There is a trend among big companies toward justifying use of violence in their attempts to reach goals. As if the country’s militarized culture is not enough, increasing monopolies of violence by big companies have assured the subordination of those vulnerable and powerless. No wonder there is such an ethics crisis.
One may assume that security personnel recruited by a plantation company — civilian guards, members of an elite police unit and military troops — have been indoctrinated, treating the village people like the company’s enemies, and viewing that killing them is not wrong.
In addition, the Mesuji tragedy indicates the absence of the state in response to people’s suffering. Residents of the Mesuji district mentioned that their complaints to local government officials and legislators had yielded nothing. People have been victimized in the face of the company’s economic interests. At the same time, the ruling authority on which most people count becomes powerless and inferior to the company’s financial might and bargaining power. As a result, the state is alien to the people.
Worse, the ruling administration seems to know nothing about what has happened. It is truly appalling how Law and Human Rights Minister Amir Syamsuddin refused to comment of the alleged killings since he was not knowledgeable about human rights. How ironic that a minister is clueless of his portfolio and responsibilities. What is the point of the President’s order to probe into the alleged mass-killing if one of those investigating is not good at his job? One may easily perceive the government’s commitment to shielding the people’s legal rights as fake and rhetorical.
The government’s lack of advocacy for marginalized people vis-à-vis corporate power is clearly seen through the mere sanctions imposed on officers who had opened fire on the residents in violation of procedures. Furthermore, the Mesuji case would not have taken place had the government been committed to compelling the plantation company to earnestly apply community-friendly policies and a cultural approach, instead of a security mode.
Last but not least, the Mesuji killings constitute the failure of the stakeholders to promote dialogue. Dialogue is instrumental not only to establish an equal relationship between PT Silva Inhutani and farmers in Mesuji, but also to foster people’s sense of belonging to the plantation, which would in turn prevent social tensions and destruction.
Human dignity springs from mutual respect for human rights by positioning Mesuji villagers as the company’s partners. ●
The group also showed a video purporting to show several killings and the bodies. Six suspects, five plantation workers and a farmer, have been arrested for their alleged role in the violence.
Despite the questionable motive of the video maker and the locations of the mass killings, the Mesuji incident has inflicted damage on the very foundation of our humanity. Using the concept coined by Hannah Arendt, the Mesuji killings are a clear sign of the banality of evil. Certain groups of people, such as the security apparatus and vigilantes, kill other people and view their actions are normal.
The Mesuji tragedy reflects a growing cold-blooded society. Some people, like the police and hoodlums, have blinded their eyes and deadened their hearts by easily slaughtering fellow human beings. The real value of human beings has been reduced to certain benefits they produce, which are money and power. Killing the Mesuji villagers, therefore, is an excuse for their failure to make money and reinforce power for the sake of capital owners.
While forests are razed to the ground, farmers who rightfully own the land are now dispensable and live in makeshift tents, since their homes have allegedly been destroyed by the henchmen of a plantation company. These people would not act if there was no money and commands from those controlling the money. The buck stops where money trail starts.
There is a trend among big companies toward justifying use of violence in their attempts to reach goals. As if the country’s militarized culture is not enough, increasing monopolies of violence by big companies have assured the subordination of those vulnerable and powerless. No wonder there is such an ethics crisis.
One may assume that security personnel recruited by a plantation company — civilian guards, members of an elite police unit and military troops — have been indoctrinated, treating the village people like the company’s enemies, and viewing that killing them is not wrong.
In addition, the Mesuji tragedy indicates the absence of the state in response to people’s suffering. Residents of the Mesuji district mentioned that their complaints to local government officials and legislators had yielded nothing. People have been victimized in the face of the company’s economic interests. At the same time, the ruling authority on which most people count becomes powerless and inferior to the company’s financial might and bargaining power. As a result, the state is alien to the people.
Worse, the ruling administration seems to know nothing about what has happened. It is truly appalling how Law and Human Rights Minister Amir Syamsuddin refused to comment of the alleged killings since he was not knowledgeable about human rights. How ironic that a minister is clueless of his portfolio and responsibilities. What is the point of the President’s order to probe into the alleged mass-killing if one of those investigating is not good at his job? One may easily perceive the government’s commitment to shielding the people’s legal rights as fake and rhetorical.
The government’s lack of advocacy for marginalized people vis-à-vis corporate power is clearly seen through the mere sanctions imposed on officers who had opened fire on the residents in violation of procedures. Furthermore, the Mesuji case would not have taken place had the government been committed to compelling the plantation company to earnestly apply community-friendly policies and a cultural approach, instead of a security mode.
Last but not least, the Mesuji killings constitute the failure of the stakeholders to promote dialogue. Dialogue is instrumental not only to establish an equal relationship between PT Silva Inhutani and farmers in Mesuji, but also to foster people’s sense of belonging to the plantation, which would in turn prevent social tensions and destruction.
Human dignity springs from mutual respect for human rights by positioning Mesuji villagers as the company’s partners. ●