Ending the contracts of useless, corrupt politicians

Benny Susetyo, Pr, Cultural Observer , Malang

The Movement against Decadent Politicians (GAPB) is now becoming more widespread. Its activities are found not only in Jakarta and other major cities but also in remote areas across the country. The movement involves the political elite as well as people on the lowest rung of the social ladder. Spearheaded by the country's front-line non-governmental organizations and noted figures, this movement is more than just the start of a discourse.

The names of those categorized as rotten politicians will soon be made public. Daring to take whatever risks it may entail, this moral movement is demonstrating its boldness at a time when the pillars supporting the nation are crumbling because of corruption.

The motivation for its establishment is the result of disillusionment with the direction of the reform movement, or reformasi, that has been carried out with very mixed results by politicians that claim to be reformists but have done nothing for the good of the reform movement. Instead, these politicians have been involved in corruption.

Acute skepticism is now plaguing the public. Legislative candidates, who should be exemplary figures in society, have largely exhibited some very bad conduct, ranging from falsification of diplomas, registering with two different political parties and resorting to bribery to ensure his or her spot on a party's list of candidates. Even though they are just candidates at this point, they have already shown behavior as disgusting as a criminal's.

GAPB endeavors to arouse public awareness in order that the voting public will also be responsible if there is a failure in the establishment of a credible government. The fact that our national system has almost entirely been damaged is attributable mostly to the elite, but also to the absence of public awareness to help control the elite so that they can be held accountable for unhealthy practices. That is why it is necessary to foster again this awareness so that reform can be introduced to all national components that are likely to turn into traitors and that prioritize their own personal bank accounts and their party's over that of the nation.

Candidates of this type will become an additional burden to the nation unless they are exposed and do not get elected. They are like germs that will spread illness to the entire body of the nation. They have failed or will fail to establish a governing system that takes sides with the majority of the people. In reality, instead of protecting the poor, members of the current legislative assembly -- most of whom are now candidates again -- have allowed themselves to be enslaved by big business interests.

In this context, Arbi Sanit is right in his statement that today there is nobody fit to lead the nation, a leader that would devote himself or herself to the people. We only have leaders that lead their own groups. If these leaders exhibit some concern for nationwide issues, is intended solely for the benefit of their own groups or parties.

Theoretically, a state and its instruments are established on the basis of an agreement between the government (the ruler) and the people (the ruled). Both are involved in a social contract about an agreement on how the state should be managed: By whom and how. This is the principle for the establishment of a democratic state in the spirit of the ideas introduced by Jean Jacques Rousseau, Montesquieu and John Locke.

In reality, however, this social contract has never benefited the people at large here. The people, that form the majority, are the object that the ruler, the minority, controls. In a democratic state, the people are theoretically the subjects, but in reality here they have degenerated into an object. It is sheer irony to see how the so-called representatives of the people prove to be the symbol of political crime with instances ranging from money politics and graft to disgustingly siding with greedy tycoons.

Unless rotten politicians are subject to controls and prevented from proceeding in their political careers either as people's representatives or as national leaders, this nation, to borrow Prof. Syafii Maarif's words, will be heading towards its doom. Surely, these rotten politicians will manage this nation and state in their own way and will never take heed of the public's aspirations.

It is evident even now how the state (read: The ruler) has been doing its activities and stipulating various important policies without the knowledge of the people. The rulers are busy carrying out preferred policies, living in the lap of luxury and involved in the rat race for lucrative positions.

Indeed, they mention the "people" in their policy making speeches or campaigns but the word "people" serves only as an ornament. It is even a greater tragedy to see how the legislators, in their comfortable seats at the House of Representatives, can do nothing to lift people out of their misery as they have supported policies that actually lead to people's misery.

The failure of these rotten politicians to carry out the message of people's sufferings should serve as a lesson for all Indonesians. The political careers of these people, now enjoying an honorable position in the respected House of Representatives and holding authority as government leaders, must immediately be terminated through a collective people's struggle to fight corruption. Sovereignty must be returned to the people, not to the politicians.

We must warn these politicians that we only utilize them on a contract basis to run the government as best they can. Now they have failed to lead this nation towards political and economic welfare and their contract will not be renewed. The only thing left for us to do is to terminate immediately the contract with them and then choose new politicians with a conscience out of 220 million Indonesians.

GAPB must be expanded to include all types of state officials, such as rotten judges, prosecutors, lawyers, bankers, businesspeople, political party chiefs, regents, mayors and governors. It is clear that these rotten people weaken efforts to eliminate corruption as it is often the case that some of them are even involved. As a result, law enforcement has been impaired because of the dishonesty of the law enforcers.

This nation must revisit one of the goals of the founders of this state: The establishment of an intelligent and prosperous society. This aspiration can be translated into reality only if the political elite are willing to serve and dedicate themselves to the people, not to political parties and capital owners.

Decadent politicians must not be limited to only the corrupt politicians, human rights violators, environmental criminals, sexual criminals or drug traffickers. The definition of rotten politicians must also cover those who have simply sat by and done nothing all these years and failed to establish a government system that will lead to the promotion of humanitarian values. The mandate given to rotten politicians must be revoked and our contract with them terminated. This revocation and termination requires an awareness of the community not to vote for them. They must not be allowed more failure as otherwise the goals of the reform movement will remain further away.

It is at this juncture very important for us to unite and critically compile a list of rotten politicians, both at the central and regional levels. A blacklist of candidates will serve as a symbol of resistance against politicians that have taken part in changing the country from bad to worse.

It is true that the general elections will not solve all the nation's problems but this occasion may serve as momentum when we terminate our political contract with these rotten politicians. The public must be united and resolve not to vote for these rotten politicians as they have openly shown that they have never fought for the good of the society but have, instead, sold mere rhetoric.

So, let us unite to block the way of rotten politicians!