Do we vote for political parties or business groups?

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.