Abstaining 'shows political awareness'<\/p>\n
By Sirikit Syah<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Political observer M. Budyatna defended
\nyesterday students who decided to abstain from voting, saying the
\nstance reflects political awareness rather than apathy.<\/p>\n
\"The students are just critical. I'm proud of them,\" said
\nBudyatna, the dean of the University of Indonesia's School of
\nSocial and Political Sciences.<\/p>\n
Commenting on recent polls that a growing number of university
\nstudents have, out of discontent over the political situation,
\ndecided not to vote in the May 29 election, Budyatna said the
\nstance should be appreciated and \"given a space\".<\/p>\n
He said the youths were still full of idealism and innocence,
\nwhich explained why they became upset when watching their
\nsupposed role models fighting for their own interests.<\/p>\n
\"The students believe there's an unhealthy situation in
\nsociety now. That's why they prefer not to be involved in the
\nelection,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He conceded that some polls might not have been conducted in a
\nrigorously scientific manner. \"There's the question of how the
\nresearchers formulate the questionnaires and how they present
\nthem,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"Loaded or leading questionnaires, for instance, lead to
\nexpected or planned answers. But a reputable survey agency
\nwouldn't do such a thing,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Sociologist Hotman Siahaan at the Airlangga University in
\nSurabaya said poll abstaining, known in Indonesia as Golput, was
\nnot a tradition among students.<\/p>\n
\"If it seems more people choose to be Golput, it's only
\nbecause now people have become brave enough to express their
\nopinion,\" he said.<\/p>\n
One of the polls, conducted in Malang, East Java, said that 80
\npercent of youths in the region would not vote. A more recent
\nstudy by the University of Indonesia said that 40 percent of
\nstudents would not vote.<\/p>\n
Hotman attributed the trend to what he called budaya tanding,
\na knee-jerk reaction of students against the establishment. \"They
\nare seeking alternatives,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"It doesn't mean they are not 'politically developed.' On the
\ncontrary, they understand that they have the right to vote or not
\nvote. They are only using their right,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"The problem is, voting here is seen more as an obligation. If
\nyou dare say that you are a non-voter, you'd be considered the
\ngovernment's enemy,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Former Moslem politician Hartono Mardjono disagreed. He said
\nreforms should be sought through voting.<\/p>\n
\"By not voting... we can't leave the present situation (which
\nis marked with) corruption,\" he said. \"Becoming a non-voter is
\nnot effective. It doesn't reflect political awareness. It's an
\nemotional stance.\"<\/p>\n
He said politically aware people would know that abstaining
\nmeans giving more votes to an unwanted ruling party.<\/p>\n
\"Most people do not realize that there are two steps of the
\nelection that do not involve political parties; the enlisting of
\nvoters and the vote-getting,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"Only Golkar, as the dominant group, is involved in the two
\nsteps. It means the monitoring process would be very weak and
\nopen to abuse,\" said Hartono, who is the former leader of the
\nUnited Development Party (PPP).<\/p>\n
He also questioned the methods employed in the polls on
\nabstaining students.<\/p>\n
Golput began in the early 1970s. Scholar Arief Budiman was the
\nfirst person to admit being an abstainer, and asked that the
\ngroup be recognized with the symbol of a white pentagon.<\/p>\n
Hartono said students might have become more apathetic because
\nthey have to contend with too many government restrictions.<\/p>\n
\"Their lecturers in school are automatically Golkar members,
\nwhile politicians from the other groups can't even enter their
\ncampuses. Their political aspiration has been killed,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Budyatna disagreed that there is an unhealthy political life
\nin universities. \"If students are allowed to practice politics
\nin universities, they will forget their study. Besides, they will
\nfight with each other just because they have different political
\norientations,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"Students should learn about politics at universities, but
\npractice outside,\" he said. \"Students are now more politically
\nmature, have their own opinion, and are less gullible.\"<\/p>",
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