Who's foiling the polls?<\/p>\n
The question on everybody's mind today is whether the general
\nelection will take place as scheduled on June 7. Recent events
\nhave given people valid reason to worry that the polls, which all
\nagree are crucial to put our crisis-ridden country back on its
\nfeet, will be postponed or even canceled.<\/p>\n
Just about every thing that has gone wrong with this country
\nin recent months is viewed as having the potential to foil the
\nelections. There is the lukewarm public response to the current
\nvoter registration drive and the slow progress made by the
\nGeneral Elections Commission (KPU) in drawing up the electoral
\nrules. There is the students' call to boycott the elections and
\nthe inability of some political parties to control their
\nsupporters' enthusiasm during street rallies. And there is the
\nspate of violence in Ambon, West Kalimantan, East Timor and Aceh,
\nand the as yet unexplained bomb threats which have rattled
\nJakarta.<\/p>\n
Last but not least, the attitude of President B.J. Habibie and
\nGolkar, and their maneuvers ahead of the elections, including an
\nearly start to their campaigning and defying the KPU ban on
\nministers' campaigning, are not helping to create the conducive
\natmosphere needed for truly democratic polls.<\/p>\n
Yet, there is a growing sense of urgency that it should take
\nplace no matter what, or the nation faces unimaginable
\nconsequences, including an inexorable plunge into total anarchy.
\nThis country is becoming more and more difficult to govern, not
\nso much because of the increasing ethnic and communal conflicts,
\nbut more because of the administration's inability to rule.
\nPresident B.J. Habibie and his administration, which have ruled
\nthis country for 11 months with weak constitutional legitimacy,
\nare fast losing their credibility. A new government, with more
\nlegitimacy and popular support, is what this country desperately
\nneeds to restore people's confidence in the government.<\/p>\n
Indonesia's economic recovery, upon which the prosperity of
\nour people depends, also hinges on the elections and its result.
\nAlthough the economy has stopped sliding, the country has been
\nstarved of new investment and will continue to be until investor
\nconfidence is restored. New jobs will only be created, and
\npeople's income increase, when we have new investment, which in
\nturn awaits the establishment of a new government.<\/p>\n
Elections are only the first step in the process of
\nestablishing a legitimate and credible government. There is the
\npresidential election by the People's Consultative Assembly in
\nNovember, and the subsequent establishment of a new Cabinet. It
\nis wrong to assume that things will get better immediately after
\nJune 7. Indonesia still has to go through several steps --
\ndifficult ones given the likelihood of a coalition government --
\nbefore it has a credible administration in place. But the holding
\nof the elections is the first and most crucial step to make.<\/p>\n
Given the acknowledged importance of the elections for this
\ncountry, one wonders why anyone would want to disrupt the process
\nand prevent the establishment of a new government. Going by
\nmotive alone, the only people to benefit would be those in power.
\nEverybody else stands to lose, but the status quo forces will
\nhang onto power that much longer.<\/p>\n
The real threat to the elections does not come from students
\nwho are calling for a boycott since they are conducting their
\nprotests peacefully. Nor is it from the public failing to
\nregister to vote; they are simply exercising their right not to
\nregister, for whatever reasons. It is not derived from the KPU
\nand the political parties either since they, too, have a stake in
\nmaking sure that the elections take place. Nor is a real threat
\nposed by the outbreaks of violence or the bomb threats.<\/p>\n
The real threat is the inability of the government, including
\nthe military, to contain the violence, their inability to give
\ncredible explanations about these incidents and their failure to
\nbring the perpetrators to justice. The mounting backlog of
\nunexplained or unsolved cases in turn raises doubts not only
\nabout the government's ability, but also its political will.<\/p>\n
Since the status quo forces are the only ones who stand to
\nbenefit from a delay or cancellation of the general election,
\nthen any search for the real culprits out to thwart the polls
\nshould probably begin among their ranks.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/whos-foiling-the-polls-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}