Scholars give thumbs down on 1997 elections<\/p>\n
YOGYAKARTA (JP): Two political analysts have poured cold water
\non rising expectations that the 1997 general election will usher
\nin a new era of democracy in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Riswanda Imawan of Gadjah Mada University said that
\npolitically, Indonesia is still immature while Yusril Ihza
\nMahendra of the University of Indonesia said that without any
\nmajor changes in the political and electoral laws, 1997 will not
\nbe that different from any of the elections in Indonesia since
\n1971.<\/p>\n
Speaking at a seminar on the upcoming elections, both Riswanda
\nand Yusril pinned the problem on the same thing -- too much state
\nintervention.<\/p>\n
The seminar on Thursday was organized by Atma Jaya University.<\/p>\n
The general election in 1997, the sixth to be held under
\nPresident Soeharto since 1971, will be contested by three
\ngovernment-sanctioned parties: Golkar, the United Development
\nParty and the Indonesian Democratic Party.<\/p>\n
Riswanda said state intervention and a depoliticized culture
\nhave meant that Indonesia cannot respond to political challenges
\nbecause society is still in its political infancy.<\/p>\n
The political maturity desired by all is still more of a dream
\nthan a reality, he said.<\/p>\n
Because of the strong presence and control of the state in
\npeople's daily activities, he said a large segment of society has
\nbecome apolitical and apathetic.<\/p>\n
The regulation requiring permits for any gathering, he added,
\nis one of the many factors that has contributed to this
\nsituation.<\/p>\n
Riswanda said another cause of political apathy is the
\nweakening political ethics of the ruling elite.<\/p>\n
Campaigns<\/p>\n
This is reflected in farcical election campaigns, which he
\ndescribed as nothing more than entertainment rather than a means
\nof politically educating the people.<\/p>\n
\"The election campaign materials and the candidates brought
\nforth are often insignificant to the substance of issues faced by
\nsociety,\" he remarked.<\/p>\n
Yusril said those who are looking for democratic progress in
\nthe coming elections are bound to be disappointed.<\/p>\n
\"The maintenance of election rules and laws still pinned on
\nthe ideals contained in 1969 laws will result in the coming 1997
\nelection having little difference from prior elections since
\n1971,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said elections rely much on the vigor of political parties
\nwhich, in Indonesia, are strictly controlled and financed by the
\nstate under law No. 3\/1985.<\/p>\n
\"The role of the state is very dominant, such as the authority
\ngiven to the Minister of Home Affairs as the patron of domestic
\npolitics,\" he said of the legislation.<\/p>\n
The law marginalizes political parties in terms of state
\ndecision making. \"Political parties seem to be helpless. They
\nhave no independence or even autonomy which is what a democratic
\nsystem should be about,\" he said. (har\/mds)<\/p>",
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