Local political parties, why not analysts ask
Local political parties, why not analysts ask
Tony Hotland, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Political analysts are throwing their weight behind calls to
create regional political parties in the country, arguing that
such parties do not have to be synonymous with separatist
movements, as some politicians fear.
Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) analyst Syamsuddin
Harris said there was nothing to fear about local parties as long
as they were constitutionally forbidden from campaigning for
independence.
"As we are now holding direct regional elections, local
parties should be allowed to contest them. It is the local people
who know who and what is best for their regions," he said on
Tuesday.
Several politicians have resisted the idea of setting up local
political parties, a concept which surfaced following the recent
peace talks between the government and the Free Aceh Movement
(GAM).
GAM has demanded it be allowed to establish its own political
party in Aceh as part of a peace deal it is scheduled to sign
with the Indonesian government on Aug. 15 in Helsinki.
The proposal, analysts said, was impossible under the current
law, which states that only national parties that have
representatives in at least half of the country's provinces are
able to field candidates for regional elections.
"Having a local party has nothing to do with separatism. The
fight for independence started long before the idea of local
parties came up. It was injustice and abuses of power at the
local level by (officials representing) the central government
that sparked the independence struggle," Syamsuddin said.
With regional parties, people would be more fairly
represented, he said. Many people had become disillusioned with
the national parties, whose elected officials were corrupt and
ineffective.
Regional autonomy did not make sense if there was not a
corresponding devolution in power in the political scene,
Syamsuddin said.
The idea of better representing the regions saw the creation
of the Regional Representatives Council (DPD) last year. However,
the DPD had limited authority and could only make non-binding
recommendations on a narrow range of issues.
Most large democratic countries, meanwhile, allowed local
parties to exist and many had implemented federal systems.
J. Kristiadi from the Centre for Strategic and International
Studies (CSIS) said any decision to allow local parties was now
in the hands of the House of Representatives.
"There's no proof (internationally) that having local parties
results in secessions. In fact, in the long term, local parties
could encourage the ruling national parties to compete in
providing welfare to the people. Why would local people want
independence if the ruling government could give them what they
needed?" Kristiadi said.
"With regional elections, it is natural that certain parties
will emerge as political forces at the local level. They will end
up giving minorities in remote areas a voice and will work to
protect their rights."