Local political parties, why not analysts ask<\/p>\n
Tony Hotland, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Political analysts are throwing their weight behind calls to
\ncreate regional political parties in the country, arguing that
\nsuch parties do not have to be synonymous with separatist
\nmovements, as some politicians fear.<\/p>\n
Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) analyst Syamsuddin
\nHarris said there was nothing to fear about local parties as long
\nas they were constitutionally forbidden from campaigning for
\nindependence.<\/p>\n
\"As we are now holding direct regional elections, local
\nparties should be allowed to contest them. It is the local people
\nwho know who and what is best for their regions,\" he said on
\nTuesday.<\/p>\n
Several politicians have resisted the idea of setting up local
\npolitical parties, a concept which surfaced following the recent
\npeace talks between the government and the Free Aceh Movement
\n(GAM).<\/p>\n
GAM has demanded it be allowed to establish its own political
\nparty in Aceh as part of a peace deal it is scheduled to sign
\nwith the Indonesian government on Aug. 15 in Helsinki.<\/p>\n
The proposal, analysts said, was impossible under the current
\nlaw, which states that only national parties that have
\nrepresentatives in at least half of the country's provinces are
\nable to field candidates for regional elections.<\/p>\n
\"Having a local party has nothing to do with separatism. The
\nfight for independence started long before the idea of local
\nparties came up. It was injustice and abuses of power at the
\nlocal level by (officials representing) the central government
\nthat sparked the independence struggle,\" Syamsuddin said.<\/p>\n
With regional parties, people would be more fairly
\nrepresented, he said. Many people had become disillusioned with
\nthe national parties, whose elected officials were corrupt and
\nineffective.<\/p>\n
Regional autonomy did not make sense if there was not a
\ncorresponding devolution in power in the political scene,
\nSyamsuddin said.<\/p>\n
The idea of better representing the regions saw the creation
\nof the Regional Representatives Council (DPD) last year. However,
\nthe DPD had limited authority and could only make non-binding
\nrecommendations on a narrow range of issues.<\/p>\n
Most large democratic countries, meanwhile, allowed local
\nparties to exist and many had implemented federal systems.<\/p>\n
J. Kristiadi from the Centre for Strategic and International
\nStudies (CSIS) said any decision to allow local parties was now
\nin the hands of the House of Representatives.<\/p>\n
\"There's no proof (internationally) that having local parties
\nresults in secessions. In fact, in the long term, local parties
\ncould encourage the ruling national parties to compete in
\nproviding welfare to the people. Why would local people want
\nindependence if the ruling government could give them what they
\nneeded?\" Kristiadi said.<\/p>\n
\"With regional elections, it is natural that certain parties
\nwill emerge as political forces at the local level. They will end
\nup giving minorities in remote areas a voice and will work to
\nprotect their rights.\"<\/p>",
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