Kids' participation in campaign criticized

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)