Political reform unlikely: Scholar<\/p>\n
SEMARANG, Central Java (JP): Political reform is unlikely to
\noccur in Indonesia in the foreseeable future, despite the
\nincreasing demand for it, according to a political analyst.<\/p>\n
Afan Gaffar says that the political institutionalization that
\nthe New Order government has been pursuing over the past two
\ndecades is simply too strong to allow reform to take place.<\/p>\n
Besides that, he claims, there are strong indications that
\nthe people are generally in favor of maintaining the present
\npolitical system because they feel it is conducive to continued
\neconomic development.<\/p>\n
\"This situation makes change difficult in the current
\npolitical system,\" the political scientist from the Yogyakarta's
\nGadjah Mada University said in a seminar here last week.<\/p>\n
According to Afan, reform will be possible only if the laws
\ngoverning the political process are revised, something which is
\nclose to impossible, he said, if the initiative is expected to
\ncome from the ruling Golkar party.<\/p>\n
\"Golkar will definitely reject any idea of amending the laws
\nbecause it would harm, rather than promote, its interests,\" said
\nthe scholar, who has been praised for his outspokenness.<\/p>\n
Calls for a political overhaul have been made repeatedly by
\nthe United Development Party (PPP) and the Indonesian Democratic
\nParty (PDI). They almost always raise the issue during sessions
\nof the People's Consultative Assembly, which are held once every
\nfive years prior to the presidential election.<\/p>\n
Currently, the demand is being amplified by political
\nactivists. In Jakarta, a Surabaya student has been on a hunger
\nstrike, demanding a change to numerous laws on the political
\nprocess which he says are retarding democracy.<\/p>\n
Afan said that the New Order government did not adequately
\nallow the people to participate in the political decision-making
\nprocess.<\/p>\n
\"However, I hope there will be gradual change for the better,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
Afan welcomed those of the government's policies which he
\nviewed as paving the way for democracy, such as the establishment
\nof the National Commission on Human Rights and the plan to slash
\nthe number of seats reserved for the Armed Forces in the House of
\nRepresentatives.<\/p>\n
The government has also promised to give the PPP and the PDI a
\ngreater say in the conduct of general elections.<\/p>\n
However, Afan said he doubted that the current flurry of
\nactivity would bring about any significant progress towards
\ndemocratization.<\/p>\n
\"I doubt that the future election will be more democratic. So
\nlong as the election is not conducted by an independent
\ninstitution, we cannot expect it will be democratic,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Currently, general elections are carried out by the
\ngovernment, whose officials are members of the Golkar party.<\/p>\n
The establishment of the National Commission on Human Rights
\nwas heartening, he said, although it mainly served as a mediator
\nin conflicts between the people and the state or private
\ncompanies. (har\/pan)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/political-reform-unlikely-scholar-1447893297",
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