Experts debate general election, coming changes<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Politicians and scholars are divided over the
\nlikely impact of Indonesia's general election next year, with one
\ncamp saying it won't alter the current power structure, while
\nanother is hopeful that some things will change.<\/p>\n
"General elections in Indonesia do not bring about changes in
\nour politics," Marzuki Darusman, a seasoned politician turned
\nhuman rights campaigner, said in discussion on Wednesday night.<\/p>\n
"They are simply means to record the people's mood," said
\nMarzuki, the deputy chairman of the National Commission on Human
\nRights.<\/p>\n
Fachry Ali, a political scholar, went further by stating that
\nelections in Indonesia have simply been a means to give
\nlegitimacy to the current power holders.<\/p>\n
Politician Ridwan Saidi however believed that there could be
\nsome dramatic changes in Indonesia in the coming years.<\/p>\n
"The 1997 and 1998 elections will not only be ceremonial. They
\nwill produce a new president," he said confidently.<\/p>\n
Ridwan, a member of the Independent Election Monitoring
\nCommittee, explained that the death of First Lady Mrs. Tien
\nSoeharto last Sunday is an important factor that could influence
\nthe election process.<\/p>\n
The general election next year, will determine the composition
\nof the 500-strong House of Representatives. Contesting the
\nelection will be the dominant Golkar organization, the United
\nDevelopment Party (PPP) and the Indonesian Democratic Party
\n(PDI). The Presidential election will be held in March 1998.<\/p>\n
The Legion of Veterans on Wednesday reaffirmed its support for
\nPresident Soeharto's reelection for a sixth five-year term in
\n1998 in spite of Mrs. Tien's death.<\/p>\n
The Wednesday discussion was organized by the Humanika
\nFoundation, a forum of mostly university students who are active
\nin promoting human rights issues and people's empowerment.<\/p>\n
Marzuki argued that a general election in Indonesia is
\nregarded as merely symbolic of people's participation.<\/p>\n
"But frankly speaking, it is simply an instrument to uphold a
\npolitical order," said Marzuki, who served in the House of
\nRepresentatives for the dominant Golkar group until 1993.<\/p>\n
Fachry, a graduate of Monash University in Australia, agreed
\nthat general elections in Indonesia have become just a political
\nritual.<\/p>\n
"The elected legislators are merely government representatives
\nfor the people. They are not the people's representatives in the
\ngovernment," he said.<\/p>\n
"The political parties are only a small part of the
\ngovernment," he added.<\/p>\n
The discussion also touched on the current debate about
\nwhether or not Indonesia needs the independent poll watchdog
\nwhich was established in March.<\/p>\n
Human rights campaigner Adnan Buyung Nasution, who also sits
\non the watchdog's board, said the poll monitoring committee is
\nproviding a channel for people who have no intention of voting
\nfor either of the three contestants. "It's better to become a
\nwatchdog than a sitting duck."<\/p>\n
Burhan Magenda, a Golkar politician, said while he did not see
\nthe watchdog as breaking any laws, he doubted if it could make
\nany significant contribution to society.<\/p>\n
"A lot of people still do not understand all this business
\nabout election monitoring," Burhan said.<\/p>\n
Noting that the committee is filled with many intellectuals,
\nhe said: "Intellectuals often move too many steps ahead of the
\nrest of society," (06)<\/p>",
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