Clearing the campaign trail<\/p>\n
The presidential elections that are to kick off today with a
\nmonth-long campaign period is an important milestone in
\nIndonesia's history. After almost 59 years of independence, it is
\nonly now that the nation seems to have amassed enough insight and
\ncourage to try and correct the shortcomings of the old electoral
\nsystem, which it had followed since the first elections in 1955,
\nby holding a direct presidential election.<\/p>\n
Under the old system proscribed by the 1945 Constitution, the
\npeople had no choice but to leave it to the political parties
\nthey had voted for in the general elections to select members to
\nthe House of Representatives, or DPR. Once every five years,
\nthese legislators, together with regional lawmakers and a number
\nof appointed assemblymen, would meet as the People's Consultative
\nAssembly, or MPR, the main duties of which consisted of drawing
\nup the so-called guidelines of state policy and electing the
\npresident and vice president.<\/p>\n
Obviously, under such a system the people were poorly
\nrepresented, since political parties have not enjoyed the
\nreputation of putting the nation's interests first and their own
\nsecond since the pre-independence era of the 1930s.<\/p>\n
Since the 1998 reform movement, transforming the legislature
\nto better serve the people's interests has therefore been a key
\npriority on the reformists' agenda. Amendments to the
\nConstitution were made, resulting in the adoption of a direct
\nelectoral system, among other things.<\/p>\n
Despite the many public complaints of abuse and mismanagement
\nby both the executive and legislative branches of government --
\nnot to mention the judiciary -- the process of democratization
\nseems to be moving ahead, even if at a snail's pace. The hope, of
\ncourse, is that the direct presidential election on July 5 will
\nhelp not only to accelerate democratic and administrative reform,
\nbut will also infuse the nation with a renewed sense of optimism
\nregarding its future.<\/p>\n
For the immediate present, however, the foremost concern seems
\nto be to ensure that the month-long campaigns and the July
\nelection itself proceed in peace and order, if not in a spirit of
\ncordiality. Toward this end, a number of measures have been taken
\nand arrangements made to make sure that calm prevails.<\/p>\n
Over the weekend, the five candidate pairs pledged to give no
\ncause for violence during the campaign by playing fair,
\nrefraining from \"black campaigning\" or mud-slinging. Three of the
\nfive also agreed to resolve all or any disputes among them by
\nreferring the matter to the Constitutional Court. The candidates
\nalso signed on Saturday a document at KPU headquarters in Central
\nJakarta as proof of their commitment to fair play. Such a noble
\nintent is vital, as the presidential election deserves to be
\nlauded, even though how things will turn out at the grassroots
\nlevel remains to be seen.<\/p>\n
The General Elections Committee (KPU) has therefore gone a
\nstep further by organizing a parade of camaraderie for the
\npublic's benefit, in which all candidates are to participate.<\/p>\n
This joint motorcade of candidates is slated to start this
\nmorning from Medan Merdeka Square, Central Jakarta, and proceed
\nto the Semanggi cloverleaf near Senayan. From that point, the
\ncars are to disperse to take each pair of hopefuls to their
\nrespective campaign venues.<\/p>\n
Amid these shows of congeniality, however, the question that
\nlingers on everybody's lips is: How great is the actual
\npossibility of violence during the campaigns?<\/p>\n
This possibility, of course, cannot be ruled out in toto, and
\nseveral friendly countries have already issued travel warnings to
\ntheir citizens, advising them to avoid traveling or staying in
\nIndonesia during the election, unless absolutely necessary.<\/p>\n
The people, it seems, appear to be taking things more in
\nstead. After all, those familiar with this country's customs know
\nthat direct elections are nothing new to Indonesia, where
\nvillagers have chosen their village heads by democratic means for
\ngenerations.<\/p>\n
Of course, modern-day politics may have affected Indonesians
\nenough over the years to alter their traditional peaceful
\nbehavior. Nevertheless, if the orderly, nonviolent general
\nelections in April are anything to go by, it may be realistic to
\nhope that nothing wrong will happen this time, either.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/clearing-the-campaign-trail-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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