Mega warns of 'ultra' democratic system
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
President Megawati Soekarnoputri warned on Monday against excessive democracy, saying that it would endanger the ongoing reform movement in the country.
Speaking before participants of the National Resilience Institute (Lemhanas), Megawati said that "ultra democracy" was making a comeback and threatening the country's unity.
"We have seen many mistakes happening again now as happened in 1955, mistakes that Mohammad Hatta called ultra democracy," Megawati said.
Hatta, the country's first vice president, popularized the term "ultra democracy" in 1955 when the country was adopting the liberal democratic system.
"The country tends to abuse democratic rights and this phenomenon will ultimately endanger the reform movement itself," she continued.
Megawati, who has been criticized for her lackluster performance, did not elaborate on current practices and mistakes that she considered ultra democracy, but she has often criticized the freedom that the country has enjoyed after former dictator Soeharto stepped down in 1998, who heavy-highhandedly led the country for more than three decades.
Since Soeharto's forced resignation in May 1998, the country has been enjoying, among other things, freedom of the press, freedom of association, including setting up labor unions, and the freedom to establish political parties. The House of Representatives (DPR), which under the Soeharto regime became a rubber-stamp legislative body, has emerged as a powerful force, so much so that the President often appears powerless against the House.
Megawati, who was ushered into the presidential post in July 2001 after the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) removed then president Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid for incompetence, has repeatedly criticized the national press, the poor performance of the House and other checks-and-balances that have limited the power of the executive branch.
On Monday, the President expressed her annoyance with the presence of many political parties, which she said were a possible threat to national unity.
Over 200 political parties have registered with the justice and human rights ministry to participate in the upcoming general election in 2004.
In the 1999 general election, considered the most democratic election in the country's history to date, a total of 48 parties passed selection by the National Election Commission (KPU) and participated in the elections.
The President cited that for the second time since 1955, political parties once again hold key positions that form the country's political life, warning them not to repeat the same mistakes of 1955.
She pointed out that the use of religion and race as the basis of the establishment of a political party would only provoke conflict among the people.
"Therefore, real democracy needs qualified political parties that are able to produce capable legislators and officials for the country," Megawati stressed.
She also said that the election of legislators would be a crucial point in ensuring the quality of democracy in the country.
"We have heard public criticism against the quality and performance of the legislators, we have to listen to and heed that," Megawati said.