Democracy taking root

Democracy taking root

The rally by Megawati Soekarnoputri's Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) is the popular politician's first personal appearance in the lead up to the June 7 poll, and its peaceful conclusion makes a promising start in the first democratic elections since 1955.

However, while special security arrangements ensure that campaigning is restricted to one party at a time may be effective in keeping rival supporters apart, they have not calmed fears that paid agitators could infiltrate the crowds.

For months now, ethnic Chinese have been making arrangements to leave the country until the election is over, fearful that the wrath of the mob could be turned on them again.

So far, the only ripples of discord have been aimed at the ruling Golkar party, which faced a barrage of stones and bottles when its yellow floats took to the streets on the first day of campaigning last week.

Tainted by the record of former president Soeharto, Golkar is desperate to change its image. But after 32 years in power it still commands resources that other parties can only dream about, and may still retain support away from the main cities. With 48 parties contesting the 500 seats in the lower house, and with 120 million people eligible to vote, policing the vote counting will be a formidable task.

The election ventures into unknown territory after decades of dictatorship and a disastrous year of riots, factionalism and economic collapse. But democracy has taken root in whatever trials lie ahead.

-- The South China Morning Post, Hong Kong