Post-poll thoughts<\/p>\n
Yesterday's announcement of the final general election results
\nnot only carries the message that a great national task has been
\naccomplished and the status quo preserved, it also acts as a
\nlesson for those who aspire to a better future for the nation.<\/p>\n
The willingness to learn from experience does not mean
\nrepentance, as criticism and social control are no synonyms for
\nefforts to unseat the incumbent. Criticism and protest should be
\nunderstood as the desire for change from the grassroots in the
\nabsence of a chance for the people to censure the government,
\nmuch less to replace it with another political force.<\/p>\n
The recent general election was marred by riots and protests,
\nindicating people's greater courage to express their political
\naspirations and make their voices heard. The grassroots, from
\nvarious cultural and religious backgrounds, took the opportunity
\nto support the non-government political entity -- as the word
\nopposition is taboo here -- in noisy street rallies.<\/p>\n
The people's judgment was also telling in the tragic failure
\nof the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI), whose recognized
\nleadership most people consider a mere extension of the
\nauthorities' political dominance.<\/p>\n
The convoys, which in many areas descended into riots, were
\nnot limited to cities but also took place in small towns. The
\npeople, after witnessing five polls since the birth of the New
\nOrder government, clearly said they wanted a cleaner and more
\ntransparent general election and to be given a greater freedom of
\nchoice.<\/p>\n
The government denied giving the United Development Party
\n(PPP) and PDI access to the computerized electoral results on
\nfinancial grounds. This was difficult for people to accept
\nconsidering the importance of the nation's "festival of
\ndemocracy", as election campaigns are dubbed.<\/p>\n
Another characteristic of the polls was PPP's and PDI's
\nprotests against what they claimed were irregularities and
\nmanipulations of the voting process by election officials, who
\nconsisted only of government officials. The government's promise
\nto process this year's protests through legal means remains to be
\nrealized.<\/p>\n
In this age of sophisticated communications technology, the
\npeople have been told that although democracy has several
\naliases, its acceptable standard is the same everywhere -- the
\nfreedom to exercise their right to choose. The people also want
\nto see the polls end like those in other democratic countries
\nwhere the losers accept defeat and congratulate the winner. One
\nexample of this was in Iran, a country which has not completely
\nrecovered from revolution. The people of Iran were happy to see a
\npresidential candidate, whom the ruling elite did not support,
\nwin and everyone promised him support.<\/p>\n
But after Golkar's landslide victory and the rise of PPP as a
\ncheck-and-balance power in the House of Representatives, is there
\nany possibility of significant change in the political system and
\nthe law on general elections? Is there any way the quality of our
\nprocess can be improved?<\/p>\n
For the sake of the nation's future and with the new trend
\namong nations to criticize the absence of political freedom in
\nmind, Golkar should move forward to sponsor the changes. One does
\nnot live on bread alone.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/post-poll-thoughts-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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