Uphold democracy<\/p>\n
From Rakyat Merdeka<\/p>\n
The Sukarno-Hatta duo saved the Republic of Indonesia from an
\nexternal threat (a Dutch comeback) and an internal threat
\n(communist rebellion in Madiun). The duo trusted and respected
\neach other. They would not take any measures before reaching an
\nagreement. This was before independence and so before the
\nConstitution was written.<\/p>\n
Bung Karno had once told Sanusi Hardjadinata that democracy
\nwould only be upheld 60 years after the proclamation of
\nindependence. Bung Karno was not a psychic, but in his defense
\nbefore a judge in 1930, he predicted the outbreak of the Pacific
\nwar, and ten years later, the Pacific war actually broke out. So
\nmaybe we can expect democracy to begin in 2005<\/p>\n
Indonesia has yet to implement a democratic system as
\nreflected in the membership of the House of Representatives
\n(DPR). A minister of internal affairs in the former New Order
\nregime had said that the DPR did not represent the people as the
\nHouse members were appointed by their political parties and not
\ndirectly elected by the people.<\/p>\n
Therefore, to uphold democracy, the next general election in
\n2004 should be based on the district system where the people can
\ndirectly elect their representatives in the DPR. However,
\nfor efficiency sake, the president and vice president do not
\nnecessarily have to be directly elected by the people.<\/p>\n
LEE SOON CHIANG<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/uphold-democracy-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }