Let the fiesta begin

The election campaign starts tomorrow. In the next 27 days, the three political groups contesting the general election will have their chance to sell themselves to voters. This is an important phase in the current build up to voting day. A five-day cooling-off period will follow the campaign before people cast their vote on May 29.

In the context of Indonesia's democratic learning process, however, the campaign is more important than the election itself. The election system has been designed in such a way that another Golkar landslide victory is guaranteed. The only unanswered question is how big a landslide will Golkar get this time. When it comes to shaping democracy, the election process is far more important and more telling than the results.

The campaign period is a rare opportunity for Golkar, the United Development Party (PPP) and the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) to touch base with the masses. In a floating mass system and in a system in which the parties are barred from setting up branch offices below regency towns, the period is also a rare opportunity for people to air their political aspirations to political leaders. Traditionally, the campaign period has been a time for people and political parties, particularly the two minority parties, to let off steam once in every five years.

It is no wonder that tension always rises during election campaigns. This time will be no exception. The political temperature in Indonesia has already risen these past few months.

The riots that rocked Jakarta, Situbondo, Tasikmalaya, West Kalimantan, Pekalongan and neighboring Central Java towns these past few months are indications that things aren't going so smoothly. While we praise the authorities for containing the problems, these incidents left us with a sour aftertaste. They indicate that tensions will not only rise in the next few weeks of campaigning, but may also erupt into violence.

A violent and destructive campaign is the last thing people want. The security apparatus has promised it will deal firmly with troublemakers. To her credit, ousted PDI leader Megawati Soekarnoputri has called on her supporters not to take part in the campaign, in order to prevent the likelihood of clashes with the other PDI camp under chairman Soerjadi. But trouble has come from others. Skirmishes in some Central Java towns these past few weeks have been between supporters of the three political groups.

Ultimately, the responsibility of securing a smooth and violent-free campaign lies with the leaders of the political groups and the government, and not with the police and military. Political leaders could prevent violence from erupting. Some of the recent riots could have been prevented if leaders of the parties and local administrations had shown greater wisdom.

The government, through the General Elections Institute, has already issued a series of campaign regulations designed to minimize the likelihood of clashes and a disruption to the country's economy. Outdoor campaigning has been restricted and indoor political dialogs are being encouraged. The contestants are assured equal time on state-run TVRI and RRI networks to reach voters nationwide.

While the intention is good -- to ensure peace and order -- these regulations must not be excessive in depriving voters and political contestants of their rare chance to exercise their democratic rights and to interact. Denying people of their once- in-a-five-year opportunity of openly airing their political aspirations will be an almost sure recipe for violence.

Even with all the shortcomings of the election system, the campaign period is still a valuable learning process for a nation struggling to establish and strengthen its democracy. We always pride ourselves in our ability to live as one nation in spite of our diversity in culture, ethnicity and religion. The restrictive election system tells us that, as a nation, we have not yet been able to cope with the diversity of opinion that exists among us.

This election, particularly the campaigning period that begins tomorrow, must therefore be seen as a step in that direction, so that our country's pluralism can eventually include political pluralism. If the campaign period and election is to live up to the official description as a "fiesta of democracy", then surely we can afford to allow people to let their hair down without necessarily letting our guard down.