RI democracy 'yet to take root'<\/p>\n
Kurniawan Hari, Jakarta<\/p>\n
While the July 5 election proceeded orderly and peacefully,
\ndemocracy may prove to take much longer to develop
\nin the world's largest archipelagic country, analysts and an
\nelection watchdog say.<\/p>\n
They argue that various violations by candidates and election
\nofficials during the campaign period and on voting day show that
\npeople here do not understand the true meaning of democracy.<\/p>\n
"We're just experiencing a ceremonial democracy and do not yet
\nunderstand the essence of democracy," Arbi Sanit, a lecturer at
\nthe University of Indonesia, told a discussion organized to
\nevaluate the country's first direct election on July 5.<\/p>\n
All five pairs contesting the July election violated campaign
\nrules, ranging from election schedules to ads on electronic and
\nprint media.<\/p>\n
The five pairs were Wiranto and running mate Solahuddin Wahid,
\nMegawati Soekarnoputri and Hasyim Muzadi, Amien Rais and Siswono
\nYudohusodo, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Jusuf Kalla, and Hamzah
\nHaz and running mate Agum Gumelar.<\/p>\n
On voting day, some election officials were found to have
\npunctured ballot papers for particular candidates. Some people
\nalso mobilized people to vote for certain aspirants.<\/p>\n
According to the Independent Election Monitoring Committee
\n(KIPP), 80 percent of election violations were committed by
\nGeneral Elections Commission (KPU) officials.<\/p>\n
The Election Supervisory Committee (Panwaslu) also reported
\nelection violations in Tawau, East Malaysia.<\/p>\n
The committee alleged that consulate staff punctured some
\n8,000 ballots in favor of presidential candidate Susilo Bambang
\nYudhoyono and his running mate Jusuf Kalla before the election.<\/p>\n
In Timika, Papua, authorities found poll officials pierced
\n3,200 ballot papers for the Susilo-Kalla pair.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, there was also mass voter mobilization at the Al-
\nZaytun Islamic boarding school in Indramayu, West Java. This led
\nto a dramatic increase of polling stations from 20 to 83.<\/p>\n
Voters in the boarding school mostly voted for Wiranto and
\nSolahuddin.<\/p>\n
The General Elections Commission (KPU) has declared Susilo and
\nMegawati the winners of the first round of the election and will
\ntherefore face each other in the Sept. 20 runoff.<\/p>\n
Arbi said he hoped election procedures could be improved in
\nthe near future because it would determine the legitimacy of the
\nelected president and vice president.<\/p>\n
Indra J. Piliang of the Centre for Strategic and International
\nStudies (CSIS) and KIPP director Ray Rangkuti agreed with Arbi,
\nsaying that laws and regulations dealing with the election were
\nfull of flaws.<\/p>\n
Indra said that people doubted the legitimacy of the current
\nHouse of Representatives members because they were appointed
\nthrough an outdated electoral system.<\/p>\n
Indra hailed, however, the fact that voters had become more
\nindependent and free from the control of political parties.<\/p>\n
"I'm also glad because there were no reports of fatalities
\nresulting from different political choices. It shows the growing
\nmaturity of the people," he said.<\/p>\n
Ray Rangkuti said that campaign fund infractions and the video
\ncompact disc (VCD) scandal in Banjarnegara, Central Java, had
\ntarnished the election.<\/p>\n
Some presidential candidates were unable to explain the
\nsources of their campaign funds, while a VCD recording caught
\npolice personnel in Banjarnegara promoting Megawati.<\/p>\n
He said that there must be fair settlements of election
\nviolations, otherwise whomever was elected president would face
\nstrong resistance from the people.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ri-democracy-yet-to-take-root-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}