Jakarta fails to push democratization process<\/p>\n
Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The capital is now preparing the establishment of councils for
\nits five municipalities and one regency in an effort to make
\nJakarta more democratic.<\/p>\n
Observers, however, say the move as ruled in Law no. 34\/1999
\non Jakarta as the special administrative region will not
\nsignificantly push the democratization process in the city
\nbecause the members of the councils are elected by the City
\nCouncil and not the people.<\/p>\n
\"I think the ongoing elections of council members will do
\nnothing for democracy in the city as they will only be elected by
\nthe City Council,\" Tubagus Haryokarbianto of the Jakarta Legal
\nAid Institute (LBH Jakarta) told The Jakarta Post on Friday.<\/p>\n
The preparation for the election for members of the council of
\nKepulauan Seribu regency and those of the council of the North,
\nCentral, South, East and West Jakarta municipalities is currently
\nin process. As many as 262 candidates who represents all
\nsubdistricts in the city are taking part in the race.<\/p>\n
The candidates for the municipal and regency council have
\npassed the selection process in their respective subdistrict by
\nthe subdistrict council.<\/p>\n
Subdistrict councils were established in 2001, also based on
\nLaw No. 34\/1999.<\/p>\n
Since Monday, candidates for the municipal\/regency council
\nhave been presenting their vision and mission before the city
\ncouncillors at the City Council building.<\/p>\n
A total of 45 candidates will be elected. Each of them will
\nrepresent a district in the city.<\/p>\n
According to Tubagus, if the plan to establish the
\nmunicipal\/regency councils is to make the city more democratic,
\nthe election should involve the people directly.<\/p>\n
He also questioned why the City Council decided to conduct the
\nelection to establish the municipal\/regency councils while Law
\nNo.34\/1999 is still being revised by the House of
\nRepresentatives.<\/p>\n
\"I think, it would be better if the election process was
\ndelayed, pending the revision of the law,\" Tubagus added.<\/p>\n
Similar comments came from chairman of the Jakarta Residents'
\nForum (Fakta) Azas Tigor Nainggolan, who said that the election
\nof the municipal council members would be a repetition of the
\nmistake made when the subdistrict councils were established.<\/p>\n
Members of the subdistrict councils were elected upon the
\nrecommendation of the neighborhood chiefs, not directly by the
\npeople.<\/p>\n
Sharing Tubagus' view, Tigor also urged the City Council to
\ndelay the election until the bill is revised.<\/p>\n
\"We know the practice at the City Council, it never takes the
\nside of the people. How credible will the members of the
\nmunicipal\/regency council be if they are elected by the
\ncouncillors?\" Tigor queried.<\/p>\n
Political analysts have branded Jakarta as the most
\nundemocratic region in the country as unlike other regions, there
\nare no legislative councils at the municipal or regency level.
\nThe five mayors and one regent in the city are all appointed by
\nthe governor and approved by the City Council.<\/p>\n
The highlights of the revision of Law No. 34\/1999 include a
\ndirect election to chose the governor, mayors and regent as well
\nas direct elections for members of the municipal and regency
\ncouncils and subdistrict councils.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/jakarta-fails-to-push-democratization-process-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}