Message from the Editor<\/p>\n
As has been the tradition for quite some time, The Jakarta
\nPost is dedicating special sections of our newspaper in the last
\ntwo days of 2003, to an outlook for the coming year.<\/p>\n
There are several ways of foreseeing the future without
\nfalling into the trap of mere prediction. One of them is to
\nreview and analyze the past, looking for overriding patterns that
\ncould help people to figure out what will happen next. We have
\nbeen doing just that for the last few days; looking into past
\nperformances in different aspects of Indonesia, be it in national
\npolitics, economy, social environment, or other matters. We have
\nalso included aspects of the regional and international
\nenvironment that have contributed to what Indonesia is today.<\/p>\n
Another tool is the national agenda, that is, what the nation
\nhas agreed upon to do next year. Our country has decided on
\nseveral agendas for 2004 -- in politics, the economy, social
\ndevelopment and others -- to move the country forward. Using past
\nperformances as a guide, one could scrutinize this agenda -- this
\nlist of \"wishes\" -- and figure out different probable outcomes.<\/p>\n
This time around, to foresee the year 2004, the Post finds it
\nvery hard to use past performances as a guide. The year 2004 will
\nbe a unique, unprecedented and highly politicized year for
\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n
In April 2004, a new electoral system will determine the
\ndistribution of seats for members of the legislature at three
\ndifferent levels throughout Indonesia. At the same time,
\nIndonesians will cast their votes to elect members of the newly
\ncreated second chamber of parliament, the Dewan Perwakilan
\nDaerah. The system, rules and regulations of the general election
\nwill not be similar to previous ones, and will be much more
\ncomplicated.<\/p>\n
Next will come the two-stage presidential election that for
\nthe first time in the history of the Republic will be direct. The
\nfirst stage is scheduled to take place in July 2004. If no
\ncandidate gains a simple majority of the total of votes -- which
\nis highly improbable -- a second stage will be held in September
\n2004.<\/p>\n
In short, the national agenda will be dominated by a seven-
\nmonth-long highly politicized period, starting from the pre-
\nelection campaigns in March through until the second presidential
\nelection in September. This will be a totally new political
\nexperience for Indonesia, and a very exhausting one as well.<\/p>\n
Nobody can foresee whether the final results will move
\nIndonesia forward in its intended process of democratization, in
\nits fumbling efforts for political reform, in its path toward an
\norderly economic environment, or in the many other aspects of
\nbecoming a new Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Instead, the Post has invited a group of analysts and
\ncolumnists to enlighten our readers on the daunting task of
\norganizing and implementing the elections; while maintaining the
\nintegrity of the whole process, as well as the country's
\nstability and sound economic conditions. Today's edition will
\nlook into the agenda and ramifications of the national elections,
\nwhile tomorrow's edition will focus on the country's economic
\noutlook.<\/p>\n
This is not an attempt to predict the future. Rather, it is an
\nendeavor to help readers to look into the relevant issues and
\nfigure out the overriding patterns.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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