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.