Democracy under trial

With the plenary session of the House of Representatives now behind us, one crucial point is that the process of democratization in Indonesia has at least been undertaken without incident to speak of. Under the circumstances, that certainly is something to be thankful for.

Unfortunately though, it is not yet time for Indonesians to breath a sigh of relief. For one thing, the surprise declaration of a state of emergency and dissolution of the national legislature by the still defiant and ever-resourceful president, Abdurrahman Wahid, cannot be discounted. Furthermore, even if things progress smoothly and the democratic political process is allowed to follow its natural course, the country still has a long way to go before a final resolution can be achieved that will guarantee political and social stability for the future.

In any case, however, the manner in which procedures were followed and the way in which differences were resolved provides a healthy indication that legislators can work in the manner expected of our esteemed people's representatives. For example, the question of whether or not Wednesday's plenary session should have been postponed -- as was proposed by the National Awakening Party (PKB) -- in view of the attorney general's testimony that the President was not involved in two financial scandals in which he has been implicated, was resolved through majority vote after deliberations produced an impasse.

Indonesians can only hope that developments over the coming days and weeks will allow the House to carry out its legislative duties properly, as befits the national legislature of a nation traveling along the rough road toward democracy. It is certain though, whatever its shortcomings, democratic political procedures are much preferred to mob rule in arriving at decisions that are acceptable to all.

Indonesians would do well in this context to recall the way in which the presidential election was conducted and mob action forestalled during the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) session, the country's highest repository of the people's sovereignty, in 1999.

At that time, Megawati Soekarnoputri was nominated by her party, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), as the party's presidential candidate. Even though the party holds the biggest number of seats in the House, Megawati lost to Abdurrahman Wahid, who was supported by the Axis Force and the Golkar Party.

Megawati's defeat and Abdurrahman's election triggered immediate, though short-lived, violence by her supporters, who felt they had been cheated of their general election victory. Then Megawati was elected vice president, and, although it was not the position she or her party coveted, she used her inauguration speech to immediately call her supporters to order. Because of that, violence on a massive scale was prevented.

That causes one to wonder what has become of the spirit of democratic sportsmanship that seemed to have imbued our legislators at that time, but seems to have now disappeared. Surely it would not be too difficult for President Abdurrahman Wahid to follow in Megawati's footsteps and order his supporters to stop the violence.

Several people have already been wounded in violence in Pasuruan and elsewhere in East Java over recent days. That is tragedy enough. However, unless the violence is stopped and mob action brought to an end, the biggest victim in terms of the nation's drive for reform is democracy itself. If that is allowed to happen, the nation will find itself back where it was before the reform movement started.

It is therefore in the interests of all Indonesians -- the leaders and the people alike -- to realize the utmost importance of allowing the democratic political process to run its course, whatever the outcome. Wisdom and magnanimity could still prevail and a compromise still be arrived at, even in a special session of the MPR.