Freedom to vote

Freedom to vote

On March 8 Kompas published an article titled Civil servants
bear no political responsibility. The article was in connection
with the President's speech at the official opening of a seminar
organized by the Indonesian Administration Scholars Association
(PERSADI). In the article, the President clarified that civil
servants bear no political responsibility, but only have
administrative responsibilities toward their respective
superiors.

In my opinion, this statement should remove all doubt on
whether civil servants, although members of the Civil Servants
Corps (KORPRI), should have the freedom to choose what party or
organization they give their vote at the coming general election.

In the past there have been many confusing and contradictory
statements. One statement said that civil servants should vote
for one particular contestant, while the other suggested that
civil servants had complete freedom to choose whatever political
party they liked.

The President has clarified that civil servants have the
freedom to vote for the political party they like the most.

The Jakarta Post recently reported that the United Development
Party and the Indonesian Democratic Party were on the verge of
bankruptcy and that only the ruling dominant Golkar party had
enough funds for the election campaigns. This gives even greater
chance for Golkar to obtain the majority of votes.

SOEGIH ARTO

Jakarta