Kids' participation in campaign criticized

JAKARTA (JP): The participation of minors in political campaigns has drawn criticism from observers.

Psychologist S.C. Utami Munandar from the University of Indonesia's School of Psychology, former lecturer of the same faculty Sartono Mukadis, and education expert Djohar M.S. said separately that taking children to campaign rallies was of no benefit to the children involved or to the political parties.

"The children are seeking revelry. Political parties won't benefit from their participation, since children are not allowed to vote," Utami told The Jakarta Post.

In Indonesia, only people aged 17 or above have the right to vote, or younger people who are married.

Djohar, who works at Yogyakarta's Teachers Training Institute, said it would be better if parents and teachers kept their underage children or students from participating in the campaign, since the related activities could not serve as good political education.

He said the campaign, which mostly featured long convoys that cause congestion, could create a misperception about politics and children.

Also, "politicians in their speeches use rhetoric and concepts which are inconceivable to children unless they get good political education in school", Djohar was quoted by Antara as saying.

Djohar said teachers could educate students about politics during classes on social sciences, state-ideology Pancasila or geography.

Sartono said that, in principle, he was not opposed to underage children participating in political campaigns as long as it posed no danger to the children.

"(Germany's Chancellor) Helmut Kohl was seen to embrace children during campaigns. Bill Clinton also did the same," he told the Post.

In Indonesia, Golkar chairman Harmoko picked up a small child in Baucau, East Timor, during a rally on Sunday, and said his political grouping did not only fight for the good of today's generations, but also those to come. He then recited a prayer for the child, saying he hoped she would grow up and become the state minister of women's affairs.

Sartono said he was, however, concerned about children's participation in the campaign, since those involved mostly preferred street rallies which put children at risk.

Sartono said campaigns could serve as political education for children, providing the children also received good political education at school.

"Children should be taught political education from elementary school. Political education here means training children to be broad-minded, to tolerate different ideas and to be willing to discuss them," he said.

During most of the previous rounds of campaign, many political supporters took as many as three children riding on a motorbike, or sitting perched atop the roofs of cars and buses. (jsk)