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)