Major changes in political laws sought

Major changes in political laws sought

JAKARTA (JP): While demanding for "true implementation" of
democracy in the country, political observers suggested on
Tuesday that major changes be made in three 1999 laws on
politics.

J. Kristiadi, deputy director of the Centre for Strategic and
International Studies (CSIS), Andi A. Mallarangeng of the State
Institute for Public Administration (IIP) and Syamsuddin Harris
of the National Institute of Sciences (LIPI) said the stagnant
reform process and democratization had a correlation with
existing loopholes in the political laws.

"Political parties are yet to be committed to democratic
principles.

"Therefore the electoral system and the relationship between
state institutions must be reviewed, while the House of
Representatives must be reorganized to help keep the nation on
the right track to democracy," Kristiadi said in a seminar on
political laws.

He warned that reformation could turn counterproductive and
that "an authoritarian regime" could return to power if the
nation took a wrong path in fostering democracy.

Kristiadi said that the law on political parties should be
reviewed to encourage the parties to democratically handle their
internal matters.

"So far, none of the existing political parties are really
democratic. They have yet to educate their members and supporters
on democracy," he said, while citing that many party congresses
had turned to violence or become an arena for power struggle.

He said the law should regulate democratic mechanisms for
party member recruitments, holding congresses, electing
chairpersons and nominating legislative candidates.

Syamsuddin said the law should contain strict rules on fund
raising.

"Besides giving their financial accountability speeches in
their annual congresses, the finances of political parties must
also be audited by public accountants or the Supreme Audit
Agency.

"Parties should be barred from doing business," he said, while
adding that the law should regulate money politics.

Meanwhile, Mallarangeng said the House and the government
should make a decision on the implementation of the district
system and direct presidential election in the next general
election, along with the implementation of regional autonomy next
January.

"The current proportional system is undemocratic and deceitful
as the people cast their votes not for their candidates but for
the parties. It's groundless to say that the people are not ready
for the new electoral system," he said.

He said if the district system was adopted in the 2004
elections, people would vote for candidates of their choice for
the House, while the representatives would strive to fight for
the people's interests.

"Besides being more qualified, legislators representing their
own districts will have an emotional relationship with their
constituents. Their parties would no longer be able recall
outspoken members in the legislative body, either," he said.

With the district system, he said, the number of parties would
decrease to the minimum because small parties would dissociate.

"There are numerous political parties in the United States,
but only the Democratic Party and the Republican Party are the
most popular and only their presidential candidates have competed
in elections," he said.

He also said that many of the existing parties could become
local parties if they gained seats in legislative councils of
provinces or districts.

He said the Indonesian Unity in Diversity Party (PBI) which
gained seats in several regencies in West Kalimantan in the 1999
elections, should be included in the local party category and be
allowed to contend in the next elections in the province.

Kristiadi suggested that armed forces and police should be
given the same opportunity as civil servants to cast their votes
for their representatives in elections so that they would not
have nonelected seats at the House and at the People's
Consultative Assembly (MPR).

"The military and the police should not be given exclusive
treatment. Their participation in elections will not cause
divisions and frictions in their organization," he said.

According to a 1999 MPR decree, the military and the police
representation in the House and Assembly will be cease in 2004
and 2009 respectively. (rms)