Cheapening the campaign

Cheapening the campaign

From Media Indonesia

The three political parties and all their branches over the
country have completed their campaigning.

All contenders have presented their programs to their
supporters through the media, or have conducted the campaigns in
the open at auditoriums and the like. Several campaigners set up
comical scenarios merely to draw public attention.

We were treated to scenes of respected members of the present
campaign dancing on stage just like entertainers. On the roads,
vehicles loaded with party supporters traveled back and forth.
The campaigners acted like clowns.

I believe this is the negative side of our efforts to realize
the mission of the 1945 Constitution, Pancasila and the mission
of the founding fathers of the republic. We should realize that
after 52 years of independence and after several elections, very
little has been achieved so far.

We may console ourselves with arguments to rationalize the
many shortcomings, treachery, ignorance, hypocrisy and our greed.
But at nightfall, before sleep sets in, we have to admit that we
secretly laugh at ourselves.

This is the reason why I, as a citizen of this beloved
country, hope that voters will show more honesty and more sense,
display fairness and not act foolishly. They should be serious,
and, more importantly, they should realize that they are
upholding true democracy through the electoral process.

I further hope that promises made during the campaigns will
materialize. Too many victims have fallen during the last
campaigns. Aside from casualties, a great deal of private money
has been spent.

We hope in five years' time we will be more mature in
implementing Pancasila democracy.

R IDRIS

Bekasi, West Java