'Nepotism against principles of democracy'

'Nepotism against principles of democracy'

JAKARTA (JP): The nepotistic national leadership recruitment
process should be put to an end because it is against the
principles of democracy, a political analyst said yesterday.

Cornelis LAY said the recruitment pattern means the political
elite often fail to represent the increasingly diverse interests
of the Indonesian people.

"The nepotism is against the principles of democracy. It's a
feudalistic practice," he told 200 participants of a seminar
titled Indonesian Political Elite Recruitment Process.

The one day seminar organized by the National Communication
Forum of the Indonesian Nationalist Students Movement Alumni
(GMNI) also featured political analysts from the military, Maj.
Gen. (ret) Z.A. Maulani, historian Onghokham, cultural observer
Eros Djarot, political observer Gen. (ret) Rudini, and legislator
Sabam Sirait.

Cornelis said in a traditional community, factors such as
kinship legitimates the power monopoly by an aristocrat.

"Such 'blue blood ties' become the only route leading to
power. Besides, a person's seniority also plays a significant
role in determining ranks and status," he said.

He added in a modern democratic society, legitimacy is
obtained through a general election, in which representativeness
is important.

Nepotism in Indonesian politics, Cornelis said, was obvious in
the lists of legislative candidates made public last month.
"Kinship was an important consideration there," he said.

Forty-nine legislative candidates secured seats in the House
of Representatives because they have "blood lines" with certain
political leaders, he said.

They come from the three political parties to contest in the
May 29 election, Golkar, the United Development Party (PPP) and
the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI).

The most nepotistic is Golkar and the least is PPP, according
to Cornelis.

"They are the offspring of officials, both civilian and the
military. This starts a regeneration process of the new political
'caste'," Cornelis said.

Unlike their predecessors, who won power legitimation through
history and service to the nation, this new future political
elite is combining the traditional legitimation of heredity
(reflected in the setting up of various organizations as a
stairway to power) and the general election.

The "political clan" built business empires under the state's
patronage and used their wealth to enter politics, Cornelis said.

Meanwhile, Siswono urged politicians from all political
parties not to manipulate religious activities for political
purposes.

Although the political climate is heightening in the lead-up
to the general election, political and religious leaders should
be able to convey their messages without mixing them up with
political ones.

Siswono, a former GMNI senior activist, alleged that the
recurrent mob violence in Central Java has occurred because
religious and political events were mixed up.

The recent unrest in Central Java reportedly involved PPP
supporters who were attending mass prayers which coincided with
the party's 24th anniversary.

They were angered by the removal from the streets of their
flags to be replaced with Golkar banners. (aan)