Major changes in political laws sought<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): While demanding for \"true implementation\" of
\ndemocracy in the country, political observers suggested on
\nTuesday that major changes be made in three 1999 laws on
\npolitics.<\/p>\n
J. Kristiadi, deputy director of the Centre for Strategic and
\nInternational Studies (CSIS), Andi A. Mallarangeng of the State
\nInstitute for Public Administration (IIP) and Syamsuddin Harris
\nof the National Institute of Sciences (LIPI) said the stagnant
\nreform process and democratization had a correlation with
\nexisting loopholes in the political laws.<\/p>\n
\"Political parties are yet to be committed to democratic
\nprinciples.<\/p>\n
\"Therefore the electoral system and the relationship between
\nstate institutions must be reviewed, while the House of
\nRepresentatives must be reorganized to help keep the nation on
\nthe right track to democracy,\" Kristiadi said in a seminar on
\npolitical laws.<\/p>\n
He warned that reformation could turn counterproductive and
\nthat \"an authoritarian regime\" could return to power if the
\nnation took a wrong path in fostering democracy.<\/p>\n
Kristiadi said that the law on political parties should be
\nreviewed to encourage the parties to democratically handle their
\ninternal matters.<\/p>\n
\"So far, none of the existing political parties are really
\ndemocratic. They have yet to educate their members and supporters
\non democracy,\" he said, while citing that many party congresses
\nhad turned to violence or become an arena for power struggle.<\/p>\n
He said the law should regulate democratic mechanisms for
\nparty member recruitments, holding congresses, electing
\nchairpersons and nominating legislative candidates.<\/p>\n
Syamsuddin said the law should contain strict rules on fund
\nraising.<\/p>\n
\"Besides giving their financial accountability speeches in
\ntheir annual congresses, the finances of political parties must
\nalso be audited by public accountants or the Supreme Audit
\nAgency.<\/p>\n
\"Parties should be barred from doing business,\" he said, while
\nadding that the law should regulate money politics.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Mallarangeng said the House and the government
\nshould make a decision on the implementation of the district
\nsystem and direct presidential election in the next general
\nelection, along with the implementation of regional autonomy next
\nJanuary.<\/p>\n
\"The current proportional system is undemocratic and deceitful
\nas the people cast their votes not for their candidates but for
\nthe parties. It's groundless to say that the people are not ready
\nfor the new electoral system,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said if the district system was adopted in the 2004
\nelections, people would vote for candidates of their choice for
\nthe House, while the representatives would strive to fight for
\nthe people's interests.<\/p>\n
\"Besides being more qualified, legislators representing their
\nown districts will have an emotional relationship with their
\nconstituents. Their parties would no longer be able recall
\noutspoken members in the legislative body, either,\" he said.<\/p>\n
With the district system, he said, the number of parties would
\ndecrease to the minimum because small parties would dissociate.<\/p>\n
\"There are numerous political parties in the United States,
\nbut only the Democratic Party and the Republican Party are the
\nmost popular and only their presidential candidates have competed
\nin elections,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He also said that many of the existing parties could become
\nlocal parties if they gained seats in legislative councils of
\nprovinces or districts.<\/p>\n
He said the Indonesian Unity in Diversity Party (PBI) which
\ngained seats in several regencies in West Kalimantan in the 1999
\nelections, should be included in the local party category and be
\nallowed to contend in the next elections in the province.<\/p>\n
Kristiadi suggested that armed forces and police should be
\ngiven the same opportunity as civil servants to cast their votes
\nfor their representatives in elections so that they would not
\nhave nonelected seats at the House and at the People's
\nConsultative Assembly (MPR).<\/p>\n
\"The military and the police should not be given exclusive
\ntreatment. Their participation in elections will not cause
\ndivisions and frictions in their organization,\" he said.<\/p>\n
According to a 1999 MPR decree, the military and the police
\nrepresentation in the House and Assembly will be cease in 2004
\nand 2009 respectively. (rms)<\/p>",
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