Democracy indicators 'remain poor': Demos

Ridwan Max Sijabat, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Under President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who was democratically elected, indicators of democracy in the country have remained poor, a human rights group says.

In a statement to mark Susilo's first year in office, the Institute for Studies on Democracy and Civilian rights (Demos) said on Wednesday that the democratic election of Susilo and his running mate Jusuf Kalla did not ensure clean, accountable and transparent governance.

The current government, Demos said, had been no different from previous post-New Order administrations, with most respondents it surveyed giving a thumbs down to the development of democracy in the country, especially the recognition of civilians rights, political freedom, socio-economic rights and people's representation, not to mention law enforcement and security conditions.

Demos executive director A.E. Priyono claimed that for many people, political developments might be moving in the right direction as people enjoy more freedoms.

"But such a perception is myopic and political development will become an illusion for the majority of people at the grassroots level unless the rule of law is upheld, civilian supremacy over the military is implemented, an independent judiciary system is guaranteed and the people's social and economic rights are respected," Priyono said.

He said all of the post-New Order governments had neglected the fulfillment of people's social and economic rights and the condition had been worsening over the past year.

"Discontent with the unfulfilled people's rights to employment, health and social security had risen to 97 percent in a mini survey we conducted in August, up from 82 percent we found in the two previous surveys in 2003 and 2004," he said.

The latest survey also shows that 90 percent of respondents are dissatisfied with the government's poor performance in upholding the rule of law and combating power abuse and corruption.

"Two general elections since 1999 were held to form a democratic government, but our surveys discovered that more than 80 percent of respondents said they were disappointed with political parties for failing to act appropriately on their constituents' aspirations, while vote-buying was rampant in the local administrative elections," he alleged.

There have been many institutions established to support democracy, but most still lack accountability, lack transparency and are involved in corruption.

"Even worse, bribery has now marred the court system," he said, referring to a bribery case involving the Supreme Court, which the Corruption Eradication Commission is currently investigating.

He added that the country's democratic government had also failed to protect people from violence, particularly repression by the national security forces or extremist groups, as well as terrorists.

Priyono criticized the government's "neo-liberalism-oriented economic policies", which were supported by the oligarchic elitists, but burdened the majority of low-income people.

The skyrocketing fuel prices were exacerbated by the neo- liberal economic policy, he surmised.

He warned that such oligarchic rule might end up creating a period of chaos. "If this happens, democracy will be returned to square one," he speculated.