GAM and elections<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post reported on page three of its Jan. 11
\nedition a statement from the Indonesian chief negotiator, Wiryono
\nSastrohandoyo, who is a seasoned and very experienced diplomat.<\/p>\n
Wiryono said: \"The government should allow GAM to join the
\nelections and it needs to find a way to enable GAM to participate
\nin the political process.\"<\/p>\n
As a non-diplomat and non-politician, it is very difficult for
\nme to understand the reasoning behind this statement. First of
\nall, GAM is an illegal organization, which has been fighting to
\ngain independence for the Acehnese and separation from the
\nRepublic.<\/p>\n
Can an organization, which is against the 1945 Constitution,
\nhave the right to participate in a legal political process?
\nWiryono should know that answer! Legal political parties hoping
\nto participate in the general election have to register at the
\nMinistry of Justice and Human Rights and should have
\nrepresentative offices in a predetermined percentage of the
\nprovinces. They should also comply with all kinds of regulations.<\/p>\n
In the reform era, we have 148 registered political parties,
\nbut only 48 are qualified to participate in the elections. For
\nthe next election in 2004 Indonesia has 237 registered political
\nparties. And all those recognized parties are loyal to the 1945
\nConstitution.<\/p>\n
If Wiryono said that the government needs to find ways to
\nallow former members of GAM to participate in the general
\nelection after they swear allegiance to the unitary republic of
\nIndonesia, proclaimed on Aug. 17, 1945, then this is a matter
\nthat can be taken into consideration.<\/p>\n
SOEGIH ARTO, Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/gam-and-elections-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }