Electing the president

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