Do we vote for political parties or business groups?

By Lea Jellinek and Bambang Rustanto

JAKARTA (JP): For 32 years the voice of the Indonesian people has been stifled. Only the rich and powerful have had a voice and most decisions have been made in Jakarta. Economic development meant for the benefit of the majority only benefited the few. Foreign loans flowed into the country so Indonesia could grow economically, but the result has been to impoverish and indebt the nation, resulting in an economic crisis.

Even though reform has occurred and the smiling general replaced, most Indonesians are still not aware that globalism and capitalism are poisons eating away the head of their nation. It is as if Indonesia is addicted to getting more and more loans rather than trying to solve its debt problems. Indonesia has yet again borrowed money for bank restructuring and the social safety net fund.

Many nations are attempting to help Indonesia move from a dictatorship to a democracy by providing large amounts of funds, electoral advice, training and monitoring. International consultants, political experts and journalists are competing to observe what is going on in Indonesia and spread their findings about the dawning of a new democracy.

The government and the people also appear to be working toward democracy in the general election to be held on June 7. Changes in electoral laws and rules relating to the House of Representatives, the system of vote counting, freedom to establish up to one hundred new political parties, the preparation and implementation of the elections, encouraging all eligible voters to register, freedom to discuss politics and to parade and campaign on the streets are all seen as evidence of democracy. Every day papers and television are full of political statements from parties. Everybody seems to be basking in the euphoria of democracy.

Is it true that Indonesia will become a democracy overnight? To become a democracy is a major achievement. Nations like America and France have taken hundreds of years to achieve this goal and many doubt that they are true democracies. Is western democracy appropriate for Indonesia? Who can answer these questions? And who can guarantee the elections will be free and democratic? Does the answer lie within Indonesia or with foreign nations? Experts, politicians and even paranormals do not have the answers.

Let us look at what is happening in Indonesia. All politicians say they are "anti-status quo" and "pro-reformasi" (reform). But who is status quo and who is reformasi remains unclear. People say the status quo are those who were linked to the New Order. Habibie's government is different from the New Order government, so does that mean his government is also pro-reformasi? Those who most proclaim themselves pro-reformasi were stalwarts of the New Order. So the bulk of the Indonesian population is left confused.

All parties compete to prove they are defenders of the people, listen to the people's voice and will gain power through the people. They are against foreign loans, capitalism and corruption, nepotism and collusion. All the parties say they are defenders of ekonomi kerakyatan -- the people's economy -- and are going to eliminate poverty.

These are empty promises. Who really is defending the people and representing their voice? If all these parties are the people's defenders, what programs have they implemented to show that they are listening and care? Many people, especially in the city, are calling out "we are hungry. We are unemployed. We lack proper facilities. Our children cannot go to school. We have no future."

People see that parties have large amounts of funds which they are using to woo voters. Wouldn't it be better to use these resources for poverty alleviation? From where did these parties get this funding and how did they suddenly become so rich?

We suspect conglomerates are backing the different political parties. Indonesia is rich and they want to get their hands on this wealth. They want to continue investing capital and exploiting Indonesia. We suspect that the many different parties just represent many different business interests. A number of parties will eventually form a coalition to strengthen one big business and this will indicate who is behind these parties.

The Indonesian people do not seem to be aware that they are not just choosing between parties but between different business conglomerates. They need to beware. They should refuse to be confused and stifled again, for this would mean no change from the New Order. They have climbed out of a hole, but will they fall back in again? Can the people differentiate between democracy and deception?

Dr. Lea Jellinek and Bambang Rustanto are anthropologists currently working on poverty issues in Jakarta.