Enter, the presidential race
After 59 years of independence, the nation kicked off on Saturday a process -- likely to be strenuous and costly -- to realize its dream of implementing a democratic system in which its citizens, as supreme stakeholders, will have the final say as to who will lead them to better the national condition.
About 150 million of its 220 million-strong population will use their suffrage on July 5 to elect their head of state for the 2004-2009 term. If no candidate wins a majority, a runoff between the top two candidates is set for Sept. 20.
On Saturday, the General Elections Commission (KPU) announced the five pairings that qualify to contest the country's first direct presidential election. The pronouncement was a mere formality, as intensive media reports have covered the preliminary presidential lineup and screening process, including a health check.
It is regrettable that former president Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid has been cut from the presidential race in representing his National Awakening Party (PKB) -- the KPU, citing his physical condition, has declared him unfit to run. The nearly blind Gus Dur has fought hard to regain the presidency, which he held from October 1999 until his impeachment by the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) in July 2001 for incompetence.
The presidential pairs represent those parties that garnered a minimum three percent of popular votes in the April 5 general election. Under the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI- P) banner are incumbent President Megawati Soekarnoputri and running mate Hasyim Muzadi -- leader of Nahdlatul Ulama, the country's largest Muslim organization. It is thought the PDI-P's main rival is former security minister Gen. (ret) Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and former social welfare minister Jusuf Kalla representing the newly established Democratic Party.
The Golkar Party, founded by Soeharto, is represented by Gen. (ret) Wiranto and Solahuddin Wahid. This pair is likely to become the most colorful combination -- while Wiranto still faces allegations of gross human rights violations for East Timor in 1999, Solahuddin, on the other hand, is a prominent human rights activist.
The others are Amien Rais and Siswono Yudhohusodo of the National Awakening Party (PAN) and incumbent Vice President Hamzah Haz and Gen. (ret) ex-communications minister Agum Gumelar of the United Development Party (PPP).
Only time will tell whether the next president will bring an end to the country's economic woes, weak law enforcement, rampant corruption and nonexistent social welfare infrastructure, to mention only a few.
A failure to tend to these tasks and improve conditions over the next five years will spell disaster -- and Indonesia will become a failed state.
It is thus crucial that voters use next month's election campaign as an opportunity to assess the candidates' programs. In addition, public debates -- also a first -- will be an effective opportunity for voters to scrutinize candidates.
Hopefully, the month-long campaign will not be a repetition of the previous campaign in March, when dangdut music became so dominant that parties and voters had little occasion to interact.
While controversy prevails over the candidacy of retired generals because of the traumatic legacy of military oppression during Soeharto's 32-year rule, such pro and cons are common -- and necessary -- in a democracy. We can only hope that rival sides will use democratic and peaceful means in voicing their aspirations.
Although the election is still over a month away, we appeal to all candidates to use the campaign period not only to woo voters, but also to educate their supporters that winning the election is not everything and so should not be achieved by any and all means. They are, at least morally, responsible for the behavior of their supporters.
Indonesia is the third largest democracy after the United States and India, and is also the world's most populous Muslim nation. The success or failure of the election will depend on the ability of the people to hold the election democratically and peacefully.
We believe the five candidate pairs will prove their statesmanship with a readiness to accept the voters' decision -- whatever it may be. We have proven against the skepticism of the international community that the nation could hold peaceful and democratic legislative elections -- both this year and in 1999. We must prove now that the presidential election will also proceed in an orderly, democratic manner.