Democratization yet to take hold in RI: Experts

YOGYAKARTA (JP): The current political system allows very little room for the public to participate in the decision-making process, experts said Saturday.

Constitutional law expert Yusril Ihza Mahendra, political scientist Arbi Sanit and sociologist Nasikun explored in a discussion on politics here a number of flaws in the political system. They concluded that democratization has yet to take hold in Indonesia.

The observers focused their attention on the general elections and how, according to one of the speakers, they have been used by the New Order administration to maintain the status quo.

Yusril, a staff lecturer at the University of Indonesia's law school, said the current proportional representation system, "tends to shift the people's sovereignty into a sovereignty of political parties."

He cited as an example the dismissal last year of legislators Bambang Warih Koesoema from the ruling Golkar group and Sri Bintang Pamungkas from the United Development Party (PPP).

"The system places little value on the participation of the people," Yusril said. "No constituents were consulted when the two legislators were dismissed from the House of Representatives, nor were the reasons explained."

Both Bambang and Bintang, known for speaking out on many issues, were reprimanded for allegedly overstepping the boundaries between their political organizations and the government.

Yusril cited the make-up of the House as another flaw. Of the 500 seats in the House, 400 are contested in elections by Golkar, PPP or Indonesian Democratic Party members. The remaining 75 are set aside for members of the Armed Forces (ABRI) whom the President appoints based on the suggestions of ABRI commanders or the minister of security and defense.

"This appointment of ABRI members is nothing but political engineering on the part of the New Order," Yusril said. "Theoretically, all House members should be elected."

The 500 House members constitute half of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), which convenes once every five years to draw up the Broad Guidelines of State Policies and to elect a president. Yusril questioned the composition because all 500 members of the MPR are appointed.

"More people are appointed by the President than elected through general elections," he pointed out. "This diminishes the people's sovereignty in our system."

Yusril said a first-past-the-post or district system would "theoretically be better in helping the people to realize their sovereignty."

Yusril said that there also is no distinction between the head of state and the head of government.

"What happens then is the President instructs the minister of home affairs, who also happens to be a leading member of Golkar, to establish the General Election Institute in charge of holding elections," he said. "How can this body be independent if it also has a stake in winning the general elections?"

Arbi Sanit focused his attention on the organizing of general elections, which, he said, are geared to meet "the government's political interests".

"Many violations have been committed by the government-backed Golkar in order to maintain the status quo," he said.

He suggested that the body in charge of holding the elections maintain neutrality by establishing an independent committee or by improving cooperation and balancing the elements involved in the general elections.

Arbi Sanit is one of the founders of the Independent Election Monitoring Committee. Established in mid-March amidst much controversy, the independent poll watchdog has been training its activists across the country to supervise a number of the early general election stages. (02/swe/31)