Multiparty system has not improved democracy
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The multiparty political system has not significantly contributed to regional autonomy and politicians continue to ignore their constituents demands and aspirations, a study says.
The research, conducted recently by a group of political scientists in cooperation with the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (IMD), revealed that although the presence of many parties in the last two elections had bought greater choice to the people, the performance of regional legislatures (DPRDs) resulting from the elections were no better than those of bodies during the New Order.
"As products of a democratic election, the DPRDs for the 1999- 2004 period polls are a little bit better than the current regional legislatures since they managed to prove they no longer served as a rubber-stamp for the government's policies.
"The two, however, are alike in nature as their members sought only power and benefited from their institution as a stepping stone to positions in government," Syamsuddin Haris, coordinator of the researchers, said while presenting the results of the study here on Wednesday.
There were 48 political parties contesting the 1999 election, and 24 parties competing in the 2004 polls.
Syamsuddin said all political parties, except the Prosperous Peace Party (PKS), were facing a crisis of legitimacy since they failed to provide an adequate space for the public to control their internal matters.
"This means that there is no mechanism for the public to control the political and moral behavior of councillors and the performance of political parties in the DPRDs.
"Parties' branches at the provincial and regental levels failed to develop since most functionaries have moved to local legislatures," he said.
Umar Anggara Jenie, chief of LIPI, said the internal conflict plaguing several parties, including the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), National Awakening Party (PKB) and the Reformed Star Party (PBR), reflected the unaccountability of political parties and the poor condition of democracy in regions.
"Party elites have been involved in internal conflicts in their attempt to seek power rather than to implement party programs and answer to the people's aspirations," he said.
Ichlasul Amal, the former rector of Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta, questioned the parties' contribution to the democratization.
"It is not clear whether provincial, regental and municipal legislatures represent parties, the people, or conflicting interests in society," he said. Most parties were less-than transparent and did little to assess their accountability during congresses, he said.
J. Kristiadi, a political scientist of the Centre for Strategic International Studies (CSIS), said the poor performance of most political parties was linked to the absence of a long- term political education programs.
"We do not have strong political parties because all existing parties are relatively new and somewhat pragmatic and are only generally active a few months before and after general elections," said Kristiadi who likened parties as "monsters hunting for power."
He said ideal parties should not only adopt a modern ideology and policies, but should also operate rigid recruitment, career planning and education schemes for their members.
The research team comprised Arbi Sanit of the University of Indonesia, along with Lili Romli, Moch Nurhasim, Sri Nuryanti, Sri Yanuarti and Tri Ratnawati, all from the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI).
They conducted the one-year study in 15 regencies and mayoralties in the provinces of North Sumatra, West Sumatra, Banten, East Java, South Sulawesi and East Nusa Tenggara.
The research included field studies, and interviews of councillors, legislature speakers, regional government heads, journalists and non-governmental organization activists.