Mega warns of 'ultra' democratic system<\/p>\n
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
President Megawati Soekarnoputri warned on Monday against
\nexcessive democracy, saying that it would endanger the ongoing
\nreform movement in the country.<\/p>\n
Speaking before participants of the National Resilience
\nInstitute (Lemhanas), Megawati said that \"ultra democracy\" was
\nmaking a comeback and threatening the country's unity.<\/p>\n
\"We have seen many mistakes happening again now as happened in
\n1955, mistakes that Mohammad Hatta called ultra democracy,\"
\nMegawati said.<\/p>\n
Hatta, the country's first vice president, popularized the
\nterm \"ultra democracy\" in 1955 when the country was adopting the
\nliberal democratic system.<\/p>\n
\"The country tends to abuse democratic rights and this
\nphenomenon will ultimately endanger the reform movement itself,\"
\nshe continued.<\/p>\n
Megawati, who has been criticized for her lackluster
\nperformance, did not elaborate on current practices and mistakes
\nthat she considered ultra democracy, but she has often criticized
\nthe freedom that the country has enjoyed after former dictator
\nSoeharto stepped down in 1998, who heavy-highhandedly led the
\ncountry for more than three decades.<\/p>\n
Since Soeharto's forced resignation in May 1998, the country
\nhas been enjoying, among other things, freedom of the press,
\nfreedom of association, including setting up labor unions, and
\nthe freedom to establish political parties. The House of
\nRepresentatives (DPR), which under the Soeharto regime became a
\nrubber-stamp legislative body, has emerged as a powerful force,
\nso much so that the President often appears powerless against the
\nHouse.<\/p>\n
Megawati, who was ushered into the presidential post in July
\n2001 after the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) removed then
\npresident Abdurrahman \"Gus Dur\" Wahid for incompetence, has
\nrepeatedly criticized the national press, the poor performance of
\nthe House and other checks-and-balances that have limited the
\npower of the executive branch.<\/p>\n
On Monday, the President expressed her annoyance with the
\npresence of many political parties, which she said were a
\npossible threat to national unity.<\/p>\n
Over 200 political parties have registered with the justice
\nand human rights ministry to participate in the upcoming general
\nelection in 2004.<\/p>\n
In the 1999 general election, considered the most democratic
\nelection in the country's history to date, a total of 48 parties
\npassed selection by the National Election Commission (KPU) and
\nparticipated in the elections.<\/p>\n
The President cited that for the second time since 1955,
\npolitical parties once again hold key positions that form the
\ncountry's political life, warning them not to repeat the same
\nmistakes of 1955.<\/p>\n
She pointed out that the use of religion and race as the basis
\nof the establishment of a political party would only provoke
\nconflict among the people.<\/p>\n
\"Therefore, real democracy needs qualified political parties
\nthat are able to produce capable legislators and officials for
\nthe country,\" Megawati stressed.<\/p>\n
She also said that the election of legislators would be a
\ncrucial point in ensuring the quality of democracy in the
\ncountry.<\/p>\n
\"We have heard public criticism against the quality and
\nperformance of the legislators, we have to listen to and heed
\nthat,\" Megawati said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/mega-warns-of-ultra-democratic-system-1447893297",
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