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)