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