Immaturity and temptation: Challenges for 2004<\/p>\n
The next general election is not far off. Yet proposals for an
\nimproved electoral system have not yet been translated into new
\nlaws. Adrinof A. Chaniago, author of a number of books on
\npolitical development and a lecturer at the School of Social and
\nPolitical Sciences at the University of Indonesia, shared his
\noutlook for 2004 with The Jakarta Post contributor Dwi Iswandono.<\/p>\n
Question: How do you view the condition of political parties,
\nin which conflicts have emerged?<\/p>\n
Answer: The similarity in interests is the only main factor
\nthat unites them. So far not one of the political parties has
\nbeen able to establish an institution. Their existence is
\ndetermined by the pattern of informal interaction.<\/p>\n
Our politicians have never presented their visions. Their
\nactivities are related only to practical politics. As a result,
\npoliticians tend to resort to other methods when they are not
\nsatisfied or fail to gain control of a political party. For that
\nreason, there has been no institutionalization.<\/p>\n
Q: So what are the prospects for political parties?<\/p>\n
A: Let's speak about the medium-term. We cannot be optimistic
\nabout their prospects in five to 10 years. The prospects depend
\non those political communities themselves. The questions are, who
\nwill be involved in the development of parties and whether we can
\nsee their ability to settle their internal conflicts.<\/p>\n
The impetus for such development must also come from outside
\nthe parties. So far politicians have striven for their narrow
\ninterests instead of focusing on political development. At first,
\nthere was hope that intellectuals from higher educational
\ninstitutions, activists and other prominent figures would enter
\nthe political arena during the transitional period. However, they
\nhave not really contributed to the development of political
\nparties and other political institutions in the past three years.<\/p>\n
Here we should be able to hope for the role of civil groups,
\nor pro-democracy actors or NGO activists. But they are also short
\nof resources caused by the loss of orientation, hesitation about
\njoining political parties, and their difficulty in defining the
\nsituation and determining the role they will play.<\/p>\n
They tend to stick to a central issue which has a national
\nscope, causing them to be reluctant to leave Jakarta, while
\npolitical development must be carried out in many places. The
\nbiggest challenges and opportunities in political development are
\nfound outside Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Q: What's the situation of political parties outside the capital?<\/p>\n
A: The regions outside Jakarta are lacking in resources.
\nPolitical development needs resources, both economic and
\nintellectual. No wonder they often run out of stamina. So far the
\npolitical players have consisted of local figures with limited
\nabilities, whereas they face serious problems like bad
\ngovernance.<\/p>\n
Look at the widespread politicization of the judiciary. The
\nAttorney General's Office and the Supreme Court have tried to
\nmake improvements, but the justice system in many regions remains
\nunchanged.<\/p>\n
Q: What's the direct impact of the conflict at the top level in
\nthe regions?<\/p>\n
A: So far democratization is limited to the center while those
\nliving in the regions remain busy with long-standing issues ...
\n Usually someone who wants to become a chairman or to occupy a
\npolitical position prefers to split the political party he has
\njoined or establish a new one ... The phenomenon at the top then
\nexpands to the regions. By joining a new party, a person will
\nhave a bigger chance to occupy a higher position at the regional
\nlevel. So we then get lots of small political kingdoms.<\/p>\n
Q: What can be done to correct the situation?<\/p>\n
A: Let's just turn to civil society. This group is expected to be
\nable to remind political parties to be aware of their
\nresponsibility ... to participate in the formulation of public
\npolicies at the central and the regional level.<\/p>\n
Q: How far will civil society groups be able to control parties
\nin the regions?<\/p>\n
A: They are still weak because they lack resources, including in
\nrecruitment. Former campus activists have often been doubtful
\nabout choosing political parties. They have limited stamina and
\nonly a few of them can stay in local groups for a long time
\nbecause they have to meet the need of their basic requirements
\nand support. That is why civil society movements in the regions
\nremain weak. But civil society leaders in Jakarta still survive
\nas they are close to economic sources.<\/p>\n
Q: So how do you see the next general election in 2004?<\/p>\n
A: That's in the very near future so there will be no significant
\nchanges. This can be seen from the condition of human resources
\nand political behavior in political parties and civil society.
\nThe district system in general elections and the direct
\npresidential election system has yet to be implemented. Thus, the
\n2004 general election will not show significant progress in
\neither the electoral system or the quality of resources enjoyed
\nby political parties and civil society.<\/p>\n
In the 1999 general election, the community was very
\nenthusiastic about controlling the election, yet this was not
\nfollowed by institutionalization -- a basic prerequisite for
\nfurther steps. People became trapped in materialistic temptations
\nand the orientation toward projects. Those traps have weakened
\nthe civil society movement.<\/p>\n
Q: Such developments will surely affect economic recovery as
\ninvestors will not know who they can rely on in politics or
\ngovernance. Would investors look to the military, if they see the
\nmilitary as the only partner which might provide some certainty?<\/p>\n
A: Investors will take a wait-and-see attitude. They will not
\nchoose a coalition with the military as the latter's situation
\nhas also become uncertain.<\/p>\n
The military is no longer able to take repressive steps.
\nPeople can criticize the military and political parties can put
\npressure on the military, causing investors to lack the courage
\nto establish a coalition with the military group.<\/p>\n
It is indeed difficult to hope for economic recovery while
\nmuch of the resources have been allocated to the settlement of
\nconflicts, reconciliation and unnecessary ceremonies.<\/p>\n
Moreover, in this chaotic situation Indonesia has become a
\nparadise for money market actors. Speculators always see
\npolitical uncertainty as a condition that can be easily
\nmanipulated when playing the money market.<\/p>\n
However, the political elite have instead contributed to the
\nprolonged crisis. They have created conflicts which are often
\nfollowed by efforts to mobilize the masses without the awareness
\nthat their actions have a direct adverse effect on the economy.<\/p>\n
Political party figures have no economic vision. They are not
\naware that every political upheaval resulting from their
\npolitical behavior has severe effects on the economy like the
\nfall in the rupiah exchange rate, an increase in the inflation
\nrate and the swelling of debts.<\/p>\n
This is worsened by the bad performance of their
\nrepresentatives in the House of Representatives at the national
\nlevel and in the regional legislative councils.<\/p>\n
The deteriorating situation in the regions is more noticeable
\nbecause party representatives tend to take advantage of their
\nauthority by drawing up budgets that benefit them.<\/p>\n
In formulating regional budgets, they only think of making
\nallocations on the basis of their own interests, such as their
\nfamily's welfare, instead of fostering economic activities in
\ntheir regions.<\/p>\n
We cannot expect economic recovery from political parties
\nbecause they have created problems and undermined the national
\neconomy instead of contributing to economic revival. They have
\nnever explained their economic recovery agenda. Actually, those
\npolitical parties should have formed a caucus to contribute to
\nmaking improvements in the economy. They took such steps in
\npolitical affairs like in the presidential election.<\/p>",
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