New Order elements in 'autonomous' regional legislative bodies<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): An environmentalist was aghast upon discovering
\nthat a regent in East Kalimantan has been parceling out lands to
\nbusiness people, issuing 200 \"minor\" concessions for protected
\nforests.<\/p>\n
The sad thing is, according to Longgena Ginting of the
\nIndonesian Environmental Forum (Walhi), the regent was only doing
\nwhat will come within his authority anyway when the laws on
\nregional autonomy and fiscal balance come into effect in January
\n2001.<\/p>\n
\"He just decided to put the laws into effect months ahead of
\ntime,\" Ginting said sarcastically, adding that such abuse of
\npower may become rampant under the new laws. \"Who will control
\npeople like this regent? It should be the local legislative
\nbodies, but we know how weak our DPRD (local legislative
\ncouncils) are.\"<\/p>\n
Do we have able regional watchdogs, politicians and community
\nleaders? Who are our regional legislators? Do they have the
\nqualities to act as good watchdogs?<\/p>\n
Sadly no, according to a recent study by the Institute for
\nPolicy and Community Studies (IPCOS). The researchers, led by
\nBenny Subianto, concluded that the changes brought about by the
\n1998 reform movement have not deeply impinged upon local and
\nregional political structures.<\/p>\n
\"The great changes in the administrative and political
\ninstitutions have failed to eliminate the New Order's political
\nbehavior and elements,\" the study said. \"The political process
\ncontinues in the old pattern, while the roles and functions of
\nthe political institutions such as political parties and DPRD are
\nstill performed in pretty much the same way.\"<\/p>\n
It was a case of muka lama baju baru (old wine in a new
\nbottle) as regards regional politics throughout the 17 regencies
\nin 9 provinces (North Sumatra, South Sumatra, West Kalimantan,
\nSouth Sulawesi, Irian Jaya or West Papua, West Java, Central
\nJava, East Java and Jakarta) that were studied. A total of 314
\npoliticians (mostly under 40 years of age, both in and outside of
\nthe DPRD, members of the political parties and Indonesian
\nMilitary representatives in the legislative bodies) participated
\nin the research.<\/p>\n
\"(Following reform) what we have here is not a change of the
\nguard but a reordering of the old guard,\" the study said. \"This
\nmeans that the old guard of the New Order remains at the center
\nstage of local politics, some of them remain in their old parties
\n(Golkar, PPP and PDI) while others have moved to new parties.\"<\/p>\n
The pattern that emerges is for the \"old\" politicians to
\nabandon Golkar and move to the PDI Perjuangan or PKP, while those
\nfrom the PPP moved to the PKB, PBB or other Islamic parties.<\/p>\n
\"In short, local reform has only led to a metamorphosis of the
\nold political elite. They may be wearing new clothes, but their
\nspirit remains the same,\" the study said.<\/p>\n
As people brought up during Soeharto's years in power, many of
\nthe politicians behave in ways reminiscent of the New Order. For
\ninstance, most of them, especially those in the PDI Perjuangan,
\nare business people.<\/p>\n
\"This fact raises the question of how a party that claims to
\nbe the political defender of the \"small people\", is actually
\nbeing supported by the bourgeoisie,\" the report said.<\/p>\n
\"Local business people are usually in close contact with the
\nlocal elite, especially the bureaucrats. We may assume that most
\nlocal politicians are those who have in the past enjoyed or are
\nstill enjoying the patronage of the local elite,\" it further
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Granted that local politics needs the financial support of
\nlocal business people, but the disproportionate number of
\nbusiness people who have become politicians may create conflicts
\nof interest.<\/p>\n
\"Will they be able to sacrifice their interests when they
\nconflict with the interests of their supporters who are mostly
\nfrom different classes, such as workers, farmers and fishermen,\"
\nthe study said. \"This is an unwelcome (development) in our local
\npolitics.\" (swe)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/new-order-elements-in-autonomous-regional-legislative-bodies-1447893297",
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