Triumph for democracy?<\/p>\n
While we wait for more definitive results from the general
\nelection, we can congratulate ourselves for the peaceful and
\norderly manner in which we carried out the ballot and vote
\ncounting on Monday. Irrespective of which party emerges
\nvictorious, something we should learn late on Wednesday, we can
\nsafely declare that these elections have been a triumph for the
\nIndonesian people and democracy.<\/p>\n
Contrary to our fears, which were fueled by speculation and
\ndoomsaying, the elections on Monday proceeded without violence.
\nThe entire process was smooth, particularly considering the short
\ntime the General Elections Commission was given to prepare for
\nthe polls. There were a few glitches on Monday, but these were
\nmostly technical and had to do with logistical problems. These
\nsmall problems did not disrupt the overall electoral process or
\ndiscourage people from exercising their right to vote.<\/p>\n
The peaceful and smooth elections defied the popular theory
\nput forward by analysts and officials that Indonesians were not
\nready for full-blown multiparty democracy, which they claimed
\ncould undermine national stability. This was the pretext used by
\nthe New Order regime and its pillars, including Golkar and the
\nmilitary, to deprive people their right to choose their leaders.<\/p>\n
Skepticism that Indonesia was not ready for true democracy was
\nprevalent among Indonesians and foreigners before Monday's polls.
\nThe unrest which erupted across Indonesia over the past year
\ncreated the image of a barbaric nation. At home, many of us even
\nbegan to believe that violence was so ingrained in us we could
\nnot resolve our differences without resorting to brutality. Such
\nthinking strengthened and sustained people's dependence on the
\nmilitary to resolve all of society's problems.<\/p>\n
The hordes of foreign journalists who covered Monday's
\nelections arrived with the anticipation that Indonesia would
\nbecome either one of the world's largest democracies or one of
\nthe world's most violent countries. They would be forgiven for
\nbelieving the second course was the most likely, particularly if
\nthey covered the bloody riots in May 1998, the clashes between
\nstudents and soldiers in Jakarta in November 1998 and the
\natrocities in East Timor and Aceh.<\/p>\n
Monday's elections and the preceding campaign not only
\nsurprised foreigners but also Indonesians, who were amazed to
\nlearn they are quiet adept at exercising democracy even though
\nthey have not had that privilege for over four decades. For many
\nIndonesians, their participation in the elections went beyond
\nmerely voting. Many stayed on afterward to watch the ballot
\ncount, making sure the process was done fairly. However, it
\nremains to be seen whether our political elite are as eager as
\nthe people they are supposed to represent to embrace democracy.<\/p>\n
While peace and order are crucial in ensuring the success of
\nany election, they are by no means the only criteria for success.
\nBefore we proclaim these elections a triumph, we must first
\ndetermine whether they have truly been free and fair.<\/p>\n
There have been some reports of last minute attempts at vote-
\nbuying and intimidation before the polling stations opened on
\nMonday, but these incidents were sporadic.<\/p>\n
These elections saw the deployment of hundreds of thousands of
\npoll observers, both locals and foreigners, to monitor the way
\nthe elections were conducted. We must wait for their assessment
\nof whether the elections, including the counting and tabulation
\nof the votes, lived up to the promise of being free and fair. So
\nfar, comments from these observers, including those of former
\nU.S. president Jimmy Carter, have been encouraging.<\/p>\n
It would be a triumph for the people of Indonesia and
\ndemocracy if the polls were free and fair. However, let us
\npostpone the celebration, if there is to be one, until we have
\nmore definitive results from the elections. It would be a hollow
\nvictory and a terrible irony if our exercise in democracy failed
\nto produce the very goal of the whole process: Voting out the
\nstatus quo and putting a proreform government in its place.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/triumph-for-democracy-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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