Experts warn against money politics in poll

Experts warn against money politics in poll

JAKARTA (JP): Observers again warned of the possibility of
money politics wreaking havoc with the June 7 general election,
committed especially by major political parties with great
resources.

Arbi Sanit, a political lecturer at the University of
Indonesia, and Sudarminto, a lecturer of morality at the
Driyarkara Institute of Philosophy, separately expressed concern
on Saturday because the new political law does not have
stipulations concerning the use of money and other material
offerings to win votes.

Sudarminto pointed out how the economic crisis had opened the
way for Golkar and other parties to use money to win support.

"Democratization and reform will halt unless we put a stop to
the use of money in politics," Sudarminto said.

He cited allegations that Golkar and several other parties had
paid people to attend their party gatherings.

"It would not be possible, it would be illogical to think the
parties held such gatherings and spent money for their cadres and
supporters without a vested interest," said Sudarminto, who is a
Jesuit priest.

Money politics, he said, could not be condoned because it
deprived people of their freedom of choice.

Arbi was more blunt, saying: "It would not be possible for
Golkar, the National Mandate Party (PAN), the Indonesian
Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) or the National
Awakening Party (PKB) to hold massive gatherings ... and many
other activities if they had no money," he said.

Arbi said he believed many business tycoons and rich
individuals in the political elite had funneled money to popular
parties, including the three most established parties (Golkar,
the United Development Party and the Indonesian Democratic
Party), in order to protect their interests.

He criticized the 1999 political law because it does not
address money politics. He believes the situation is as such
because of the engineering of a "pro-status quo" group seeking to
maintain power.

"There should be harsh penalties against individuals,
companies and political parties proven guilty of involvement in
dirty politics," he said.

He defined money politics as individual donations of more than
Rp 15 million and corporate donations of more than Rp 150 million
a year. "This is a corrupt act that should be penalized," he
said.

The 1999 law on political parties limits donations to parties
to a maximum of Rp 15 million a year from individuals and Rp 150
million from corporations. Foreign donations are prohibited.

Both observers called on the National Elections Committee to
establish a code of conduct which includes stiff penalties
against parties found to have participated in money politics.

Mochtar Buchori, a deputy chairman of PDI Perjuangan, admitted
his party had received large donations from various parties. But
he denied money politics had taken place, saying everything was
done in compliance with the law.

The party, led by Megawati Soekarnoputri, was facing financial
difficulties in carrying out its programs across the country.

He said PDI Perjuangan was in need of Rp 20 billion to
consolidate its cadres.

Arbi predicted that no parties would gain a majority victory
in the elections as there were simply too many parties.

He observed that PDI Perjuangan, PKB and PAN, which have won
public support, would take a majority of the vote and would
emerge as the top three.

"Golkar, the United Development Party (PPP) and the Crescent
Star Party (PBB), in my opinion, will follow as members of the
top six," he said. (rms)