No strong grounds to riot during polls: Psychologist<\/p>\n
A. Junaidi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
A psychologist dismissed on Saturday the possibility of mass
\nriots prior to, or during, the upcoming elections, saying that
\nthere were no strong grounds for violence.<\/p>\n
Psychologist Sarlito Wirawan Sarwono said Indonesia was now
\neconomically and socially more advanced than during the 1999
\nelections.<\/p>\n
\"I'm sure there will be no mass violence. The current
\nsituation is much better than when we held the 1999 general
\nelection,\" Sarlito of the University of Indonesia said after
\nhosting a discussion titled Prospect of Violence: Past, Present
\nand Future.<\/p>\n
He said the only possible source of violence would be from
\npoliticians who had failed to win legislative seats.<\/p>\n
He also warned the media against repeatedly quoting certain
\nstate officials who had predicted possible bloodshed during the
\nelections.<\/p>\n
\"Violence could indeed eventuate if the media constantly warns
\ntheir readers of possible mass violence,\" he said after the
\ndiscussion, which was organized by the Leiden University Alumni
\nUnion at Erasmus Huis here.<\/p>\n
Last week, Indonesian Army chief of staff Gen. Ryamizard
\nRyacudu warned of possible bloodshed during the elections and
\nsaid that the Indonesian Military (TNI) would take actions to
\nstop the violence.<\/p>\n
His statement drew sharp criticism, as it was considered to be
\npart of the military's effort to return to politics.<\/p>\n
Since the fall of former president Soeharto in May 1998,
\nIndonesia has been facing communal conflicts triggered by ethnic
\nor religious issues. It is also believed these conflicts are
\ninstigated by those dissatisfied with the reform movement.<\/p>\n
Indonesia will hold the legislative election on April 5 and
\nthe first direct presidential election on July 5, with its run-
\noff on Sept. 20.<\/p>\n
The General Elections Commission has declared 24 political
\nparties eligible to contest the polls, when people will elect
\nmembers of the House of Representatives (DPR), regional
\nlegislatures (DPRD) and the Regional Council (DPD).<\/p>\n
Speaking in the discussion, historian Adrian Lapian suggested
\nthat violence could be avoided if people were willing to learn
\nfrom history.<\/p>\n
\"(The) State could use many methods, including traditional
\nways to prevent violence,\" Lapian, who is also an emeritus
\nprofessor at the University of Indonesia, told the discussion.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, anthropologist Patricia Spyer asked politicians to
\nuse peaceful campaign images, as happened in Maluku, where
\nsectarian conflict claimed 6,000 lives between 1999 and 2001.<\/p>\n
\"Children were encouraged to visualize peace and the images
\nwere used during media promotions, including on the local
\ntelevision station. It seemed to work,\" Spyer from Leiden
\nUniversity, who had recently conducted a study on the peace
\nprocess in the Maluku capita of Ambon, told the discussion.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/no-strong-grounds-to-riot-during-polls-psychologist-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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