Fear-free elections

Fear-free elections

President Soeharto has instructed the Indonesian Institute of Sciences to examine the electoral system and the social role of the Armed Forces in Indonesia. The President made this demand when installing Dr. Soefyan T. Sauri as the Chief of the Research Institute.

As an Indonesian citizen, I find this instruction from the President very positive. I hope that the next elections will be carried out better. I would like to make some suggestions:

* Every contesting party should have its own presidential candidate.

* All leaders of the contesting parties should be free from pressures -- both internal and external -- fear and fame seeking.

* There should be a third party who can act wisely, is prudent, honest and impartial. It is advisable that this third party consists of religious figures.

* Election day should be made a holiday.

It should be noted that general elections need large funds, time and energy. The elections must be conducted efficiently and conspiracy must be avoided.

MAKMUR ABUBAKAR

Jakarta