Jakarta fails to push democratization process
Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The capital is now preparing the establishment of councils for its five municipalities and one regency in an effort to make Jakarta more democratic.
Observers, however, say the move as ruled in Law no. 34/1999 on Jakarta as the special administrative region will not significantly push the democratization process in the city because the members of the councils are elected by the City Council and not the people.
"I think the ongoing elections of council members will do nothing for democracy in the city as they will only be elected by the City Council," Tubagus Haryokarbianto of the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH Jakarta) told The Jakarta Post on Friday.
The preparation for the election for members of the council of Kepulauan Seribu regency and those of the council of the North, Central, South, East and West Jakarta municipalities is currently in process. As many as 262 candidates who represents all subdistricts in the city are taking part in the race.
The candidates for the municipal and regency council have passed the selection process in their respective subdistrict by the subdistrict council.
Subdistrict councils were established in 2001, also based on Law No. 34/1999.
Since Monday, candidates for the municipal/regency council have been presenting their vision and mission before the city councillors at the City Council building.
A total of 45 candidates will be elected. Each of them will represent a district in the city.
According to Tubagus, if the plan to establish the municipal/regency councils is to make the city more democratic, the election should involve the people directly.
He also questioned why the City Council decided to conduct the election to establish the municipal/regency councils while Law No.34/1999 is still being revised by the House of Representatives.
"I think, it would be better if the election process was delayed, pending the revision of the law," Tubagus added.
Similar comments came from chairman of the Jakarta Residents' Forum (Fakta) Azas Tigor Nainggolan, who said that the election of the municipal council members would be a repetition of the mistake made when the subdistrict councils were established.
Members of the subdistrict councils were elected upon the recommendation of the neighborhood chiefs, not directly by the people.
Sharing Tubagus' view, Tigor also urged the City Council to delay the election until the bill is revised.
"We know the practice at the City Council, it never takes the side of the people. How credible will the members of the municipal/regency council be if they are elected by the councillors?" Tigor queried.
Political analysts have branded Jakarta as the most undemocratic region in the country as unlike other regions, there are no legislative councils at the municipal or regency level. The five mayors and one regent in the city are all appointed by the governor and approved by the City Council.
The highlights of the revision of Law No. 34/1999 include a direct election to chose the governor, mayors and regent as well as direct elections for members of the municipal and regency councils and subdistrict councils.