New Order revival?
New Order revival?
Just nine days remain to the 22-day campaign period, after which
there is a three-day cooling-off period before people cast their
votes for legislative candidates on April 5. It will be the first
of two direct elections the people of this country have ever
participated, the second being the presidential election in July.
Campaigning by political parties last week, though generally
peaceful, was far less exciting than the 1999 campaign when the
nation had just freed itself from the yoke of a repressive
government. Then, euphoria engulfed the whole nation, one year
after Soeharto, the autocrat Army general, quit his 32-year iron-
fisted rule.
The bland atmosphere notwithstanding, the usual way of
campaigning is back: dangdut (a blend of Indian, Arabic and local
flavor) performances and free T-shirts for supporters. However,
it quickly became clear that the public had little interest in
listening to campaigners' speeches. Gone are the days when
political parties could mobilize people to follow the campaign
trail during most of the Soeharto years.
Not to be outdone, political parties have come up with all
sorts of schemes, no matter that they may violate election rules,
to lure supporters. They give free basic food stuff, door prizes,
scholarships and even money to the detriment of the quality of
political education.
The only consolation is the intellectual agility shown by some
candidates for the Regional Representatives Council (DPD), who
have introduced door-to-door campaigning. Foremost among them are
former minister Sarwono Kusumaatmadja and former legislator
Bambang Warih Koesoema who talked with members of the grass
roots.
Although it appears that all the fanfare of last week has not
mended the dashed hopes of a better Indonesia. Indeed, the week
also saw the rise of remnants of the New Order government. They
appeared under no guise, as though the public has forgotten all
the blunders committed by the old regime.
A retired Army general and the daughter of the autocrat
Soeharto went on stage, glorifying the "good old days". Gen. R.
Hartono called upon members of his audience in Yogyakarta to
become Soeharto minions like himself.
But his plea was irrelevant because Soeharto needs no help. He
remains free despite allegations that while in power he
accumulated huge personal wealth. This is clear proof that his
lackeys are alive and kicking. They never failed to jump to his
defense each time it appeared he was to be brought to trial.
Although, lackeys are lackeys. They behave so, first of all, to
save their own skins. The Soeharto family businesses remain
mostly untouched. That the reform movement stalled was, in large
part, due to the resistance of his lackeys. They may have swelled
with the inclusion of former reformist elements who floundered
under the lure of power and money.
The general made a pledge that he would bring the good old
days back to the country if Siti Hardiyanti "Tutut" Rukmana were
to be elected president as the candidate for his Concern for the
Nation Functional Party (PKPB). Hartono may have forgotten that
during Soeharto's rule, around US$10 billion, about a third of
the country's foreign debt, mysteriously disappeared. Today,
every Indonesian citizen has a personal debt of Rp 10 million
($1,200), thanks to the culture of corruption selfishly nurtured
during Soeharto's rule. Statistics sound like a litany of grief,
with half of the population of 210 million people living in
abject poverty on less than $2 a day and unemployment reaching a
boggling 40 million.
All this, plus the devastation of intangible assets like
failed institution building, the absence of free speech, the
mafia-like judiciary, the aesthetics of banality. Many of these
fiascoes persist. The "good old days" Hartono and Tutut were
referring to was simply a house of cards that collapsed under the
pressure of the 1997 financial crisis.
The general and daughter duo do not likely pose any serious
challenge to other politicians, but they are smart enough to
exploit the absence of demands to bring Soeharto before the
court, demands that dominated the 1999 elections. Their
resurgence merely demonstrates the New Order remnants' heightened
level of confidence.
As political parties make the most of the remaining campaign
days, it is imperative that the battered, scattered and weakened
reformist forces join hands. It is time to embark on a long
journey to heal the wounds left by a 32-year dictatorship. The
resurrection of New Order forces must be halted by reminding the
people of its past mistakes. The people have to be able to pick
the right candidates in the elections.
Insightful political observer Mochtar Pabottingi put it
succinctly when he said that people should not vote for Yellow
Golkar (Soeharto's political machine for three decades and which
remains intact to this day), Red Golkar (Megawati's Indonesian
Democratic Party of Struggle, PDI-P) or the True Golkar (the
PKPB). Yogyakarta Governor/Sultan Hamengkubuwono X made an
exemplary gesture when he categorically rejected Hartono's
appeal. Too many things would be at stake should the New Order
remnants manage a comeback. Our people must not be cheated a
second time.