Elections not yet democratic, expert says
Elections not yet democratic, expert says
KEBUMEN, Central Java (JP): Past general elections in
Indonesia have been less than democratic because the existing
political system unfairly favors the ruling Golkar party, a
political scientist says.
Afan Gaffar from the Yogyakarta-based Gadjah Mada University
said in a discussion here Saturday that no "principles of
democracy" have been applied in the past five elections since the
establishment of the New Order administration in 1966.
Indonesia held the first general elections under the New Order
government in 1971.
"General elections have been directed in such a way as to
ensure absolute victory for Golkar, " Afan charged.
In the current electoral system, he said, Golkar is an
instrument of the government, which, through representative
bodies, shapes the country's social, political and economic
agenda.
"Golkar is now a party of hegemony, and the opportunity for
power rotation is non-existent," Afan said in the discussion held
by the Kebumen chapter of the Moslem-based United Development
Party (PPP). The other political party is the nationalist
Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI).
Afan also said that in order to reach those ambitions, the
government has been efficiently and systematically, though
inconsistently, "depoliticizing" the population.
The "political mass" concept, which curtails the participation
of the population through political parties, has contributed to
Golkar's domination, he pointed out.
PPP and PDI have been campaigning for a reform of the
electoral system. One of their chief complaints is that they are
forbidden to set up offices at the village level and that their
activities are virtually confined to regency towns. Golkar, on
the other hand, can reach the mass rural bases because the
village heads are members of the ruling party.
Another effort to depoliticize the people was launched by the
government through the Civil Servants Corps (Korpri), which more
or less compels civil servants to vote for Golkar, Afan said.
"Those who try to have different political aspirations will
have to face some bitter consequences, including the loss of
their jobs," Afan alleged.
Afan also said that the government tightly "controls" various
stages during general elections.
"This practice is clearly against the principles of democracy,
namely the freedom of choice for the people and the right to fair
competition among the political parties," he said.
Afan cited two other principles which have been violated,
namely the right of every citizen to be involved in the election
process and the independence of the body in charge of organizing
the elections.
Afan said Indonesia does not need to change the electoral
system. Rather, he said, the monitoring of voting and ballot
counting at general elections needs to be strengthened by
involving more PPP and PDI members.
President Soeharto signed a decree in April revising a number
of general election procedures. The decree gives political
parties slightly greater roles and enables them to appoint their
members to witness vote casting and ballot counting.
One new rule allows for a party to appoint its representatives
from other districts if it cannot find anyone to represent it in
the said district.
The decree was the latest in a series of efforts made by the
government to improve political representation. Earlier this
year, for instance, President Soeharto instructed the Indonesian
Institute of Sciences to examine the current electoral system
and, if necessary, find a better replacement. (har/swe)