Democracy remains a fantasy for reform dreamers: Observers
Democracy remains a fantasy for reform dreamers: Observers
A'an Suryana and Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Five years have passed since the reform movement put an end to
three decades of authoritarian rule in 1998, but democracy, the
ultimate goal of the movement, has not yet emerged in the
country, political observers say.
Indria Samego, a researcher with the Indonesian Institute of
Science (LIPI), said that the reform that the students fought for
five years ago had indeed resulted in some improvement in terms
of legislation that supports democracy.
Freedom of expression and freedom of the press, for example,
had been given space to flourish, he said.
However, Indria asserted that the reform movement had not
improved politics here. The starkest example of the failure could
be seen in the political parties, most of which, ironically,
claimed to be the vanguard of democracy.
Antidemocracy behavior takes place right under their noses, he
added.
"Patron-client relationships between the elites and the grass-
root party members still exist, which hampers democracy," Indria
said.
The presence of popular leaders remains a trend in the
political parties, which often leads them to a dictatorial style.
It happens in most parties, including those led by Megawati
Soekarnoputri and Amien Rais, Indria said, adding that they were
no different from former autocrat Soeharto.
"Any dissident in the party is quickly eliminated as the
leaders, in most cases, cannot accept differences," Indria said.
Fellow political observer Ikrar Nusa Bakti shared Indria's
view, saying that the ideal of democracy had only been partially
practiced in the country.
Citing an example, he said the House of Representatives, the
people's representation in the country, had indeed shown its
teeth and become credible critics of the government -- no longer
a rubber stamp like what it was during the Soeharto era.
However, Ikrar pointed out that democracy remained far away,
as it was being tarnished by rampant corruption and the
government's failure to enforce the law.
Corruption, he said, had spoiled democracy, as political
parties and elite groups were competing to pursue their own
interests at the expense of the national interest.
Ikrar said corruption cases involving House speaker Akbar
Tandjung and businessman Probosutedjo were but a few examples of
how powerless the law was in the country.
Both have been sentenced to jail by lower courts, but remain
free pending their appeals.
"Political parties are also competing for places in strategic
state companies, so that they can secure funding for their
campaign to win the 2004 general election," he said.
President Megawati Soekarnoputri, who leads PDI Perjuangan,
admitted that corruption, collusion and nepotism still plagued
the image of political parties, including her own.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the United Development
Party (PPP) congress here, Megawati expressed concerns that
corruption had involved the legislative branch and other
politicians.
She said the widespread corruption took place due to lack of
control from the party's leaders.
In order to prevent corruption, both in political parties and
legislatures, Megawati proposed that political parties exercise
more power to recall or dismiss any members implicated in graft
cases. Related story on Page 8