Mega warns of 'ultra' democratic system
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.