Experts warn against money politics in poll<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Observers again warned of the possibility of
\nmoney politics wreaking havoc with the June 7 general election,
\ncommitted especially by major political parties with great
\nresources.<\/p>\n
Arbi Sanit, a political lecturer at the University of
\nIndonesia, and Sudarminto, a lecturer of morality at the
\nDriyarkara Institute of Philosophy, separately expressed concern
\non Saturday because the new political law does not have
\nstipulations concerning the use of money and other material
\nofferings to win votes.<\/p>\n
Sudarminto pointed out how the economic crisis had opened the
\nway for Golkar and other parties to use money to win support.<\/p>\n
\"Democratization and reform will halt unless we put a stop to
\nthe use of money in politics,\" Sudarminto said.<\/p>\n
He cited allegations that Golkar and several other parties had
\npaid people to attend their party gatherings.<\/p>\n
\"It would not be possible, it would be illogical to think the
\nparties held such gatherings and spent money for their cadres and
\nsupporters without a vested interest,\" said Sudarminto, who is a
\nJesuit priest.<\/p>\n
Money politics, he said, could not be condoned because it
\ndeprived people of their freedom of choice.<\/p>\n
Arbi was more blunt, saying: \"It would not be possible for
\nGolkar, the National Mandate Party (PAN), the Indonesian
\nDemocratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) or the National
\nAwakening Party (PKB) to hold massive gatherings ... and many
\nother activities if they had no money,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Arbi said he believed many business tycoons and rich
\nindividuals in the political elite had funneled money to popular
\nparties, including the three most established parties (Golkar,
\nthe United Development Party and the Indonesian Democratic
\nParty), in order to protect their interests.<\/p>\n
He criticized the 1999 political law because it does not
\naddress money politics. He believes the situation is as such
\nbecause of the engineering of a \"pro-status quo\" group seeking to
\nmaintain power.<\/p>\n
\"There should be harsh penalties against individuals,
\ncompanies and political parties proven guilty of involvement in
\ndirty politics,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He defined money politics as individual donations of more than
\nRp 15 million and corporate donations of more than Rp 150 million
\na year. \"This is a corrupt act that should be penalized,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The 1999 law on political parties limits donations to parties
\nto a maximum of Rp 15 million a year from individuals and Rp 150
\nmillion from corporations. Foreign donations are prohibited.<\/p>\n
Both observers called on the National Elections Committee to
\nestablish a code of conduct which includes stiff penalties
\nagainst parties found to have participated in money politics.<\/p>\n
Mochtar Buchori, a deputy chairman of PDI Perjuangan, admitted
\nhis party had received large donations from various parties. But
\nhe denied money politics had taken place, saying everything was
\ndone in compliance with the law.<\/p>\n
The party, led by Megawati Soekarnoputri, was facing financial
\ndifficulties in carrying out its programs across the country.<\/p>\n
He said PDI Perjuangan was in need of Rp 20 billion to
\nconsolidate its cadres.<\/p>\n
Arbi predicted that no parties would gain a majority victory
\nin the elections as there were simply too many parties.<\/p>\n
He observed that PDI Perjuangan, PKB and PAN, which have won
\npublic support, would take a majority of the vote and would
\nemerge as the top three.<\/p>\n
\"Golkar, the United Development Party (PPP) and the Crescent
\nStar Party (PBB), in my opinion, will follow as members of the
\ntop six,\" he said. (rms)<\/p>",
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