Experts debate general election, coming changes

Experts debate general election, coming changes

JAKARTA (JP): Politicians and scholars are divided over the
likely impact of Indonesia's general election next year, with one
camp saying it won't alter the current power structure, while
another is hopeful that some things will change.

"General elections in Indonesia do not bring about changes in
our politics," Marzuki Darusman, a seasoned politician turned
human rights campaigner, said in discussion on Wednesday night.

"They are simply means to record the people's mood," said
Marzuki, the deputy chairman of the National Commission on Human
Rights.

Fachry Ali, a political scholar, went further by stating that
elections in Indonesia have simply been a means to give
legitimacy to the current power holders.

Politician Ridwan Saidi however believed that there could be
some dramatic changes in Indonesia in the coming years.

"The 1997 and 1998 elections will not only be ceremonial. They
will produce a new president," he said confidently.

Ridwan, a member of the Independent Election Monitoring
Committee, explained that the death of First Lady Mrs. Tien
Soeharto last Sunday is an important factor that could influence
the election process.

The general election next year, will determine the composition
of the 500-strong House of Representatives. Contesting the
election will be the dominant Golkar organization, the United
Development Party (PPP) and the Indonesian Democratic Party
(PDI). The Presidential election will be held in March 1998.

The Legion of Veterans on Wednesday reaffirmed its support for
President Soeharto's reelection for a sixth five-year term in
1998 in spite of Mrs. Tien's death.

The Wednesday discussion was organized by the Humanika
Foundation, a forum of mostly university students who are active
in promoting human rights issues and people's empowerment.

Marzuki argued that a general election in Indonesia is
regarded as merely symbolic of people's participation.

"But frankly speaking, it is simply an instrument to uphold a
political order," said Marzuki, who served in the House of
Representatives for the dominant Golkar group until 1993.

Fachry, a graduate of Monash University in Australia, agreed
that general elections in Indonesia have become just a political
ritual.

"The elected legislators are merely government representatives
for the people. They are not the people's representatives in the
government," he said.

"The political parties are only a small part of the
government," he added.

The discussion also touched on the current debate about
whether or not Indonesia needs the independent poll watchdog
which was established in March.

Human rights campaigner Adnan Buyung Nasution, who also sits
on the watchdog's board, said the poll monitoring committee is
providing a channel for people who have no intention of voting
for either of the three contestants. "It's better to become a
watchdog than a sitting duck."

Burhan Magenda, a Golkar politician, said while he did not see
the watchdog as breaking any laws, he doubted if it could make
any significant contribution to society.

"A lot of people still do not understand all this business
about election monitoring," Burhan said.

Noting that the committee is filled with many intellectuals,
he said: "Intellectuals often move too many steps ahead of the
rest of society," (06)