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)