The Ballad of Rocky Gerung

RECENTLY, I have observed from afar that Rocky Gerung is undergoing a public scrutiny. This article attempts to offer a slightly different perspective.

Like some readers, I do not know Rocky personally.

I recognize him from television, the various controversies surrounding him, and certainly his critical stance towards the authority (Jokowi).

However, I am quite familiar with one of Rocky's intellectual circles in the past: the Democracy Forum (Fordem).

Before pursuing studies in the birthplace of The Beatles, at one time in the past, I learned quite a lot from Rocky's two friends in Fordem, who lived in Bandung and Jakarta.

Of course, I am not a member of Fordem. My generation came long after, even when Fordem itself had already disbanded.

Therefore, in this writing, I never felt quite worthy of explaining the details about Fordem, let alone about the remarkable individuals within it.

This piece stems more from snippets of conversations, questions and answers, perceptions, and my memory regarding those two individuals.

Democracy Forum

I believe Fordem is one of the Indonesian intellectual groups with a character that is increasingly rare these days.

Rocky Gerung was once part of that environment.

Fordem was founded in the early 1990s, when Indonesia's political economic space was severely limited.

The state's position was too strong, while civil society was too weak, resulting in limited room for differences. It is no surprise that "democracy" became the foundation of Fordem.

In this forum, great minds with truly diverse intellectual backgrounds came together.

I do not remember all of them. Names like Gus Dur, Bondan Gunawan, Rahman Tolleng, Arief Budiman, Todung Mulya Lubis, Daniel Dhakidae, Marsillam Simanjuntak, Romo Mangunwijaya come to mind.

Romo Magnis-Suseno and many other notable figures with long records in Indonesia's intellectual and civil society life.

Due to this diversity, it is arguably inaccurate to read Fordem as a group with a single ideology.

However, the values that seemingly brought them together include democracy, civil liberties, social justice, and—at least from the two Fordem individuals I know—humanity.

Perhaps because of this, to me, Fordem's critique of the New Order authority was never merely "superficial" regarding who was in power at that time. The more fundamental questions in my view were: for what purpose is power (the New Order) used, and how does power (the New Order) treat people?

Looking at substance in Rocky's statements so far, there is an echo that feels familiar to me.

Of course Rocky is not Fordem, and Fordem is far larger than Rocky.

However, for me, Fordem is one important context to view Rocky's intellectual side.

Fordem and Authority

The relationship between Fordem members and authority, in my opinion, is quite intriguing.

They are not "foreign" to power. In capacity, it does not seem exaggerated to say that many of them are more than qualified to be involved in power.

At least from my perception and memory, the greatness of Fordem individuals lies in the manner in which they treat power.

It is not something that should always be avoided, nor is it a goal that must be maintained at all costs.

There are important questions that seem to be answered first: what is the purpose of entering, why is it necessary to be there, and at what point should one distance themselves, or even leave.

These questions feel increasingly rare in today's politics in Indonesia.

Political conversations are often filled with questions (which are no less important) about how to enter power and how to stay there.

Regarding this relationship with authority, perhaps the story of Gus Dur can serve as the clearest illustration.

One of Fordem's founders ultimately reached the height of power as President of the Republic of Indonesia.

We know how that story goes: Gus Dur's power ended in July 2001, yet his ideas never truly ceased.

Perhaps this is one characteristic of Fordem members. They can enter power, be inside, but never fully become "people of power".

To me, their greatest legacy lies in their consistency in passing on knowledge, wisdom, attitudes, and a "way of seeing and hearing" Indonesia to younger generations.

Upon further reflection, it might not be power that is "hostile" to Fordem individuals.

It could be they who are "unfriendly" to power.

Not in the sense of hostility, but they have never made power something too sacred.

Remember Gus Dur's words? There is no position (power) in this world that needs to be defended at all costs.

Now Rocky

If my thesis is correct, the "DNA of Fordem" resides within Rocky Gerung.

I am not surprised by his position towards Joko Widodo's government.

Nor am I in a rush to read Rocky's decision to accept the position of Wantimpres as a sign of inconsistency.

At this point, I recall Howard Zinn, who once wrote, "you can’t be neutral on a moving train." The world continues to move.

Injustice is never entirely resolved just because someone chooses to be "neutral".

Reflecting on Zinn, I believe the relationship between an intellectual and power is not as simple as being "inside" or "outside". Consistency and loyalty to the values one believes in are far more important.

And if the history of Fordem individuals can serve as a mirror, that relationship is almost always complicated. They are close to power, even have been inside power, but have never become "people of power".

Will Rocky's story follow the same pattern? Or will Rocky Gerung indeed be an outlier from this group?

Whatever it is, good luck with your role, Bung Rocky.