Democracy takes a back seat in Jambi<\/p>\n
Jon Afrizal, The Jakarta Post, Jambi<\/p>\n
The champions of democracy in Jambi province are no longer
\nconsistent in upholding their principles, with many of them
\ngetting involved in campaigning for candidates contesting the
\nupcoming gubernatorial elections, a leading think tank has
\nclaimed.<\/p>\n
\"There has been a decline in democratic ethics in Jambi,\"
\ndirector of the Jambi Social Reform Study Center Kasmadi Kasyim
\ntold The Jakarta Post on Saturday.<\/p>\n
He was referring to local political analysts and scholars who
\nhave joined the campaign teams of gubernatorial candidates.<\/p>\n
Kasmadi said those who used to fight for democracy have jumped
\nonto the bandwagon of mainstream politics, leaving no-one to
\nobjectively monitor the election process.<\/p>\n
\"Such a function is urgently needed to prevent the election
\nprocess from sacrificing the interests of the general public,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The analysts, he added, were not now explaining to the public
\nthe vision and policies of the respective candidates, thus
\ndiscouraging people from voting based on narrow sectarian
\naffiliations.<\/p>\n
\"Democracy suggests a fair competition, and should offer as
\nmany choices as possible to the public,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Coordinator of the Prosperous Justice Party's (PKS) campaign
\nteam, Nurdin, said the party was also concerned about the lack of
\ndemocratic values in the election campaign.<\/p>\n
PKS is ineligible to pick its own gubernatorial candidate
\nbecause it only secured three seats in the provincial
\nlegislature, far from the electoral threshold of seven
\nseats.<\/p>\n
\"However, the PKS has to endorse a candidate who fits with our
\ncriteria, even though he or she may not share our principles,\"
\nsaid Nurdin.<\/p>\n
Otto Hardiman from the Indonesian Center for Democracy and
\nHuman Rights (Demos) said the involvement of advocates of
\ndemocracy in regional elections was also occurring at the regency
\nlevel as well.<\/p>\n
\"It has become a trend that the champions of democracy are
\nbecoming increasingly involved in election campaigns in many
\nregions,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said that pro-democracy figures could make a contribution
\nto democracy if they dared to promote alternative candidates and
\nmaintain pressure on winning candidates to allocate posts in
\ntheir administrations the to parties that supported them.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/democracy-takes-a-back-seat-in-jambi-1447893297",
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