The 'White Group' in election<\/p>\n
Unlike the other contestants in the upcoming general election
\nthere is no formal organization to accommodate Golput (the "White
\nGroup", or group of non-voters). It does not have a board, nor
\ndoes it have any rules. Nevertheless, the name Golput comes to
\nthe surface and casts its shadow every time general elections are
\nto be held. Golput is like a fourth contesting party besides the
\nUnited Development Party, Golkar and the Indonesian Democratic
\nParty.<\/p>\n
As the upcoming general election draws near, the Golput
\nphenomenon can again be felt. In Malang, recently, findings of a
\npoll made by a group of youth activists showed that many young
\npeople may be voting Golput. Aside from the question of the
\nvalidity of the findings, this is a phenomenon that deserves our
\nattention.<\/p>\n
In other cities, particularly in West Java, leaflets have been
\ncirculated by groups which openly encourage people not to use
\ntheir voting right in the upcoming election. A number of students
\nin Semarang and Purwokerto were taken to court on charges of
\nhaving circulated leaflets encouraging people to vote Golput.<\/p>\n
Legally, Golput is not prohibited since voting is a right, not
\nan obligation, of citizens. What is prohibited is asking people
\nnot to use their right to vote, and particularly to encourage
\npeople to boycott the election.<\/p>\n
A general election cannot be viewed as a mere ritual where
\npeople make their choice among three contestants. A general
\nelection must be seen as the beginning of a long process to
\ndetermine the conduct of government. The general elections lead
\nto the nomination of the people's representatives in the House of
\nRepresentatives and the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR).<\/p>\n
The highest institution of state, which is the MPR, then
\nelects the nation's President and Vice President and delineates
\nthe Broad Outlines of State Policy. The President, being the
\nbearer of the MPR's mandate, runs the government in accordance
\nwith the directives given by the Broad Outlines of State Policy,
\nassisted by the Vice President and the ministers of the cabinet.<\/p>\n
Whenever it concerns the interest of the country, we should
\nnot talk about rights and obligations on a narrow basis. Even if
\nvoting is not a legal obligation, it is nevertheless a moral one.
\nThe reasoning behind this logic is simple. If a person is
\nunwilling to cooperate in so small and costless a task as voting
\nin the general elections, what would they do if a larger task was
\nat hand?<\/p>\n
Those who chose to vote Golput have their own argument. In
\ntheir view, none of the three contestants -- PPP, Golkar and PDI
\n-- is worth voting for. In this case, however, no such simple
\nyardstick can be used. After all, everything in this world is
\nrelative.<\/p>\n
-- Media Indonesia, Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/the-white-group-in-election-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }