Democracy indicators 'remain poor': Demos

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.