Debureaucratize political parties: Group

Debureaucratize political parties: Group

JAKARTA (JP): Gema Madani, a non-governmental organization
promoting the empowerment of civil society, is calling for
debureaucratization of political organizations and the ruling
Golkar to ensure they are independent in channeling the people's
aspirations.

Organization chairman Emil Salim said in a discussion on
reform here yesterday that they should be free of bureaucratic
interference in carrying out their political mission.

"We have only three political parties. Many people become
frustrated and dissatisfied because the political parties fail to
channel their aspirations because of bureaucratic intervention,"
the former cabinet minister said.

He said it would be unlikely for the political parties to
produce great leaders if they continued to be dominated by the
government.

He said it was also difficult for the House of Representatives
(DPR) and the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) to be free and
independent as long as they were strongly controlled by the
bureaucracy.

"According to the 1945 Constitution, the president should be
subordinated to MPR. But, in practice, the highest law-making
body is apparently under the president's control," he said.

Emil also said the press should be given a greater "social
control" role overseeing the government.

"Therefore, the ministerial decree allowing the minister of
information to revoke a media publishing license should be
revoked to let the press be free and independent in carrying out
their mission," he said.

He also said that the government should revoke the law on
subversion to empower people in implementing their political
rights.

The antisubversion law, enacted in 1963, carries a maximum
sentence of death for those involved in subversive activities.
Critics claim the government can rely on the law as a deterrent
to people voicing antigovernment sentiment. (rms)