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