General elections in era of reform

General elections in era of reform

From Merdeka

Mr Sutan Ali Asli's article in Merdeka of June 27, 1998,
titled Why worry about multiparties?, clearly expresses his
ideas. Since 1963 I have regularly read articles in the mass
media about the institutional development of the Indonesian Armed
Forces and therefore I hope that my interpretation of part of the
above-mentioned article agrees with what the writer really means.

The part in question is as follows: "...if there are 10
parties (including the Indonesian Armed Forces and social
groups), and so forth". According to Article 27 of the 1945
Constitution, it is inherent with all state apparatuses
(including the Armed Forces and civilian civil servants) the
right to participate in a general election.

This article does not distinguish active and retired members
of state apparatuses. Neither does it make any distinction
between members of the Armed Forces and civilian civil servants.
In short, the Constitution does not adhere to a principle of
discrimination. The preamble of the Constitution even contains a
constitutional instruction that state apparatuses as state
organs/institutions are obliged to stand above all kinds of
sectarianism and supersede individualism in carrying out their
missions, for example protecting the entire people without
exception.

This means that institutionally speaking, these apparatuses
must take a neutral stance. As underlined by the Constitution,
this neutral stance philosophically means nonrecognition of a
dual function. As already proven, this dual function has paved
the way for abuses in sociopolitical areas by the head of
state/supreme commander of the Armed Forces/President on the
basis of Article 10. Worst of all, the division of the body of
Golkar (the functional group) into the so-called Armed Forces
lane and bureaucracy lane has made state apparatuses adhere to
sectarianism and individualism. In the case of the functional
group, since March 11, 1996 individualism has signified a
personal ambition.

If we consider the ideas contained in the preamble of the 1945
Constitution, there are at least four compulsory references for
the drawing up of the decrees of pro-total-reform People's
Consultative Assembly (MPR). First, as individuals, all members
of state apparatuses still in active service have the same rights
as retired ones. They can channel their political aspirations in
the coming general election. Second, the human rights inherent in
members of state apparatuses as citizens will not be reduced even
a tiny bit. Third, a principle of discrimination must not be
adopted in the appointment/installation of members of the
People's Consultative Assembly/House of Representatives/regional
legislatures. Members of all these institutions must be recruited
through a general election. Fourth, members of all state
apparatuses still in active service must not join any political
parties, mass organizations, non-governmental organizations or
the like, either as ordinary/executive board members or as
patrons.

SUNGKOWO SOKAWERA

Bandung, West Java