Conflict among political elites

Conflict among political elites

From Pikiran Rakyat

In developing countries like Indonesia conflicts among political elites are common place. Each group is striving for its own interests, even though they are in the same government.

To achieve its goals, a political group always makes efforts and employs any method so that at one time it does not hesitate to make innocent people its victims.

During the New Order era hidden rifts among the political elites existed, but they were rarely covered in the media, because of the wisdom of the authoritarian government which ruled the country then. Regard for human rights and democracy were at that time at their lowest level.

Only after the fall of the New Order, and the rise of the reform order, did the power of the political elites emerge. Each and everyone of them declared the same slogan: upholding justice and paving the path for democratization. It was here the political elites engaged themselves in the race for gaining the people's support, by presenting their high-sounding concepts and aspirations.

I would like to call on those political elites to realize their shortcomings in implementing their programs and do away with any destructive emotions for the interest and integrity of the society. Honesty and good intentions on the part of the political elites are desperately needed if justice and democratization are to be manifested.

AAN SUPRIATNA

Bandung, West Java