Scholar proposes new model of politics for RI<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Political scientist Amir Santoso has proposed a
\n\"supportive participation\" model of politics to tackle two major
\nhurdles which Indonesia is now facing: Growing demands for
\ndemocracy and a widening gap between the rich and the poor.<\/p>\n
Speaking at Jayabaya University on Saturday, Amir said his
\nmodel would ensure continued political stability -- which he said
\nwas crucial for development -- while at the same time
\naccommodating the changes occurring in society.<\/p>\n
\"In my opinion, a society which is more intellectual and
\nprosperous needs more room for the expression of opinions. In
\nother words, people need to participate,\" he said in an oration
\nmarking the 37th anniversary of the private university.<\/p>\n
He said he called the model \"supportive participation\" because
\ndemonstrations and even coup d'etats, while forms of
\nparticipation, were destructive.<\/p>\n
Amir said past policies of the New Order administration have
\nstifled people's participation in policy-making process.<\/p>\n
He said the forced merger of political parties and the
\ngovernment's intolerance towards criticism in the 1970s, the law
\nprescribing a single state ideology and restrictions on political
\nactivities have all combined to limit the people's participation
\nin politics.<\/p>\n
The end result is that the government has become very powerful
\nvis-a-vis the people, he said.<\/p>\n
He noted, however, that the government had already eased some
\nof the restrictions as Indonesia began to move towards political
\nopenness in 1990.<\/p>\n
Amir's \"supportive participation\" model is based on the
\nfollowing conditions:<\/p>\n
* There must be a dominant party that transcends all ethnic,
\nreligious and other groups in society. A ruling coalition has the
\npotential to create political instability.<\/p>\n
* People's participation must start in the rural areas, giving
\nfarming people a say in the election of their leaders and
\ninfluencing policies in their areas.<\/p>\n
* The dominant party must strive to win the support of those
\npeople in the rural areas, must open its doors to them. But rural
\npeople's participation must be limited to their respective
\nvillages. Given the heterogeneity of Indonesian society,
\ninvolvement of rural people in national politics could create
\nserious disruptions to political stability.<\/p>\n
* The people's representative councils, especially in the
\nregions, must truly act as the people's representatives,
\ncontrolling the executive. At the local level, these councils
\nshould have the power to reject or recommend appointments to key
\ngovernment posts. At the national level, a People's
\nRepresentatives House must also have the power to vet candidates
\nfor senior government positions.<\/p>\n
* The Supreme Court and other legal institutions must be
\nguaranteed independence and must be free from pressure from the
\nexecutive and legislative branches of government.<\/p>\n
* Political parties and mass organizations must be given
\nsufficient liberty to provide the people with political
\neducation. These organizations should become channels through
\nwhich society monitors the bureaucracy.<\/p>\n
Amir said his model also envisaged a strong executive.<\/p>\n
\"There must be a balance in the bargaining power between the
\npeople and the state or the government,\" he said, adding that
\nthis would reduce the likelihood of any of them abusing their
\npower.<\/p>\n
Amir said that greater participation by the people would at
\nleast help reduce the discontent often accompanying the
\ninequality in the distribution of the fruits of development<\/p>\n
\"By allowing them to have their say, express opinions and
\ninfluence policies, the people will find a legal and
\nconstitutional channel to air their desires and feelings,\" he
\nsaid. (rms)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/scholar-proposes-new-model-of-politics-for-ri-1447893297",
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