Competing for DPD seats

Competing for DPD seats

Many observers are skeptical that the 2004 legislative
elections will give people the sense that they are really
participating in the management of the country.

This skepticism is understandable, given the fact that some of
the preliminary processes of the elections are open to question.
For example, the election of members of the Regional
Representatives Council (DPD), which with the House of
Representatives will make up the People's Consultative Assembly,
has so far failed to meet expectations.

The process of electing the DPD in the capital Jakarta, which
is expected to serve as a model of democracy and civil society,
is a good example of the hurried implementation of the whole
process.

The Jakarta General Elections Commission (KPUD) failed to
inform the public about even such basic items as what the DPD is
and what it does, and only a few people were informed enough to
know who was eligible to run for election to the DPD.

More than 430 registration forms for election to the DPD
reportedly have been distributed in Jakarta, while nationwide at
least 1,000 registration forms have been handed out. Those
filling out the forms include public figures and old political
hands.

The extension of the deadline for picking up a registration
form from July 14 to July 21 should be used by the KPUD to
educate people about the council.

It is doubtful that everyone who has filled out a registration
form is aware of the conditions set by the commission, including
the fact that candidates must gather the signatures of at least
3,000 people.

Each candidate is allowed to campaign and raise money, though
no more than Rp 100 million from individuals and Rp 750 million
from private companies or institutions.

Each province will elect four representatives to the DPD
during the legislative elections. The candidates will stand as
individuals, not as representatives of political parties.

The DPD candidates must not be officials of political parties
at any level. However, this does not guarantee that the body will
be free of all political influence. Given the many loopholes,
there is the possibility candidates will have political
affiliations.

With Jakarta expected to serve as a model for other provinces
in terms of promoting democracy and civil society, politics
should not be the main motive for the DPD candidates here.

We are of the opinion that the candidates should be people
reputed for their service to the city. They must have adequate
sensitivity toward environmental issues and poverty eradication,
as well as educational issues.

These issues are vital, because according to the 2003 Human
Development Report published by the UN, Indonesia's Human
Development Index, based on 2001 figures, is 0.682, with 1.0
being the best and zero the worst.

The report states that Indonesia has failed to fulfill what
the UN calls the Millennium Development Goals, which include the
eradication of poverty and hunger, and the improvement of
education health and the environment.

Therefore, Jakarta needs to be represented on the DPD by
people with a clear vision and mission on the environment,
education and poverty, instead of politicians with political
aspirations.

Jakarta needs to be represented by people who have the ability
to cooperate with counterparts in the neighboring provinces of
Banten and West Java, to boost development in the outer areas of
Greater Jakarta, known as Jadebotabek (Jakarta-Depok-Bogor-
Tangerang-Bekasi).

There have been drastic changes in society as people have
increasingly demanded a better life, democracy and transparency.
The best way to respond to these dynamic changes is to provide
the people with the freedom to pick their representatives
democratically.

But we need people with integrity, not political adventurers
with vested interests.