Direct elections of regional chiefs could be fraught with problems

Direct elections of regional chiefs could be fraught with problems

C. Effendi, Jakarta

While the majority of senior Ministry of Home Affairs
officials prefer to be regarded as serious and unapproachable,
Progo Nurdjaman, the director general of regional autonomy, comes
across as being a friendly character who is open to suggestions.

In fact, Progo has an enormous responsibility for managing
Indonesia's largest democratic experiment: Direct elections for
216 regents, mayors, and governors throughout Indonesia this
year.

The success of organizing direct elections on such a scale
will determine whether Indonesia has the right to be regarded as
the third-largest democracy in the world after India and the
United States.

Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was directly elected as President
last year. Now, for the first time, the people will have the
chance to vote for regents, mayors, and governors.

Larry Diamond, a democracy expert from the Hoover Institute
reminds us 'that democratic processes at a regional level are
more likely to give rise to conflict'. Given the fact that
Indonesian parties have not had a tradition of educating their
supporters, it is most likely that candidates will resort to
playing on people's religious, cultural, regional and language
differences to win votes. Herein lies the problem.

In a country that has recently recovered from ethnic and
religious conflicts, the use of primordial factors as campaign
issues will only reopen old wounds.

Several issues could stand in the way of successful direct
elections. Preventing the manipulation of primordial sentiments
by political candidates is the most challenging task.

Primordial issues are unavoidable in Indonesia. With a hundred
and one ethnic groups, five main religions, and countless
dialects spoken throughout the archipelago, nothing appeals more
to the uneducated population than dialog on primordial
sentiments.

This type of manipulation may initially boost candidates'
chances, but, in the long run, its consequences could tear the
country apart. The Jakarta Post (Feb. 14, 2005) warned of
possible election violence in Bandarlampung. People in the city
have already begun to reorganize themselves for the election of
regent.

In fact, the election law prohibits the manipulation of
primordial sentiments during the campaign period. The question is
whether regional elections commissions have the courage to
prosecute those who violate the law.

The fact that regional elections commissions have no
experience in running elections, other than under the supervision
of the General Elections Commission, also gives rise to serious
apprehension.

Educating the people that in a democracy there are no
guarantees of a candidate's success may not be easy,
particularly among fanatical supporters. Accepting the defeat of
a candidate becomes more difficult if voters view that candidate
as a true representation of their ethnic, religious or regional
group. Conflicts between supporters of political leaders are a
common phenomenon in emerging democracies. Thus, local elections
can be regarded as successful if physical conflict among
supporters is prevented.

Herein lies the need for a neutral, effective and trusted
police force.

Regional elections commissions need to call on for support all
formal and informal leaders in their districts/provinces to
prevent conflict among supporters.

The success or failure of regional direct elections may be
taken as an indicator of whether democracy has been successfully
introduced in the provinces.

Thus, political parties and candidates must persuade their
supporters that the success of the elections would be for the
greater good of the people.

Progo and his colleagues in the home affairs ministry are
gambling with history. The stakes may be high, but what a
fantastic legacy success would be.

Failure, however, would only help those who have long demanded
that the Ministry of Home Affairs loosen its grip on domestic
politics.

The writer is a researcher at The Indonesian Institute, Center
for Public Policy Research, Jakarta. He can be reached at
cecep_effendi@yahoo.com.