Democracy in the House

Democracy in the House

When Mr. Soegih Arto (ABRI true democrats, The Jakarta Post,
May 26, 1995) wrote on the Armed Forces, just who did he think he
was kidding, apart from himself?

Let me single out just one point: "... (Armed Forces) have 100
appointed representatives in the House of Representatives". This,
he appears to think, indicates that Armed Forces members are true
democrats.

But does he not realize that such an appointed presence in
what is supposed to be an elected legislature is not democratic?

JAMES RICHARDS

Jakarta