Elections not yet democratic, expert says<\/p>\n
KEBUMEN, Central Java (JP): Past general elections in
\nIndonesia have been less than democratic because the existing
\npolitical system unfairly favors the ruling Golkar party, a
\npolitical scientist says.<\/p>\n
Afan Gaffar from the Yogyakarta-based Gadjah Mada University
\nsaid in a discussion here Saturday that no \"principles of
\ndemocracy\" have been applied in the past five elections since the
\nestablishment of the New Order administration in 1966.<\/p>\n
Indonesia held the first general elections under the New Order
\ngovernment in 1971.<\/p>\n
\"General elections have been directed in such a way as to
\nensure absolute victory for Golkar, \" Afan charged.<\/p>\n
In the current electoral system, he said, Golkar is an
\ninstrument of the government, which, through representative
\nbodies, shapes the country's social, political and economic
\nagenda.<\/p>\n
\"Golkar is now a party of hegemony, and the opportunity for
\npower rotation is non-existent,\" Afan said in the discussion held
\nby the Kebumen chapter of the Moslem-based United Development
\nParty (PPP). The other political party is the nationalist
\nIndonesian Democratic Party (PDI).<\/p>\n
Afan also said that in order to reach those ambitions, the
\ngovernment has been efficiently and systematically, though
\ninconsistently, \"depoliticizing\" the population.<\/p>\n
The \"political mass\" concept, which curtails the participation
\nof the population through political parties, has contributed to
\nGolkar's domination, he pointed out.<\/p>\n
PPP and PDI have been campaigning for a reform of the
\nelectoral system. One of their chief complaints is that they are
\nforbidden to set up offices at the village level and that their
\nactivities are virtually confined to regency towns. Golkar, on
\nthe other hand, can reach the mass rural bases because the
\nvillage heads are members of the ruling party.<\/p>\n
Another effort to depoliticize the people was launched by the
\ngovernment through the Civil Servants Corps (Korpri), which more
\nor less compels civil servants to vote for Golkar, Afan said.<\/p>\n
\"Those who try to have different political aspirations will
\nhave to face some bitter consequences, including the loss of
\ntheir jobs,\" Afan alleged.<\/p>\n
Afan also said that the government tightly \"controls\" various
\nstages during general elections.<\/p>\n
\"This practice is clearly against the principles of democracy,
\nnamely the freedom of choice for the people and the right to fair
\ncompetition among the political parties,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Afan cited two other principles which have been violated,
\nnamely the right of every citizen to be involved in the election
\nprocess and the independence of the body in charge of organizing
\nthe elections.<\/p>\n
Afan said Indonesia does not need to change the electoral
\nsystem. Rather, he said, the monitoring of voting and ballot
\ncounting at general elections needs to be strengthened by
\ninvolving more PPP and PDI members.<\/p>\n
President Soeharto signed a decree in April revising a number
\nof general election procedures. The decree gives political
\nparties slightly greater roles and enables them to appoint their
\nmembers to witness vote casting and ballot counting.<\/p>\n
One new rule allows for a party to appoint its representatives
\nfrom other districts if it cannot find anyone to represent it in
\nthe said district.<\/p>\n
The decree was the latest in a series of efforts made by the
\ngovernment to improve political representation. Earlier this
\nyear, for instance, President Soeharto instructed the Indonesian
\nInstitute of Sciences to examine the current electoral system
\nand, if necessary, find a better replacement. (har\/swe)<\/p>",
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