Electing the president

I am concerned by the recent development of democratization in this country, which is indicating an unruly process. It is well known that the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) is believed to have won the recent elections, not by an absolute margin but with about 35 percent to 40 percent of the vote.

This will mean that the road to the presidency for Megawati is still bumpy because winning the recent general election does not automatically mean winning the presidency. People should remember and abide by the 1945 Constitution that the president is only elected by the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR). The recent polls were not to elect the president, but only to elect members of the House of Representatives.

And the act of Megawati's supporters to place bloody fingerprints in a show of support for their leader is regrettable.

November 1999, if the Special Session is not set earlier, will be the time to give support and pressure to members of the MPR to elect Megawati as president.

I am concerned about two things. First, thumb-print movement. What is it for? Is it necessary to do something in such an emotional manner? Can't we act in a more mature and rational way? The argument that this act was done by ignorant people in society does not work; the elite of PDI Perjuangan should have educated them not to be so emotional. Their act may only turn out to be counterproductive not only to themselves, but most importantly to the nation's process of democratization. The elite in PDI Perjuangan should obviously be held responsible for this kind of irrational movement and its possible damaging result to the nation.

Secondly, bringing and involving a mass movement as a gesture of pressure may invite other groups to do likewise. Who will guarantee there will be no clashes between the opposing groups?

H.W. PIENANDORO

Bogor, West Java