New values vs old
New values vs old
In the present age of reform, Indonesians have to be prepared
for the unavoidable struggle between old and new values. This
trend is a matter of natural consequences because standing face
to face in the wind of social change today are prodemocracy
people and the remnants of the fallen authoritarian regime of
president Soeharto. They dominate today's ruling elite.
The latest example of the tug-of-war between the two values
took place recently when the General Elections Commission, the
independence of which is a new element in Indonesia's political
life, voted in favor of banning government officials from
campaigning on behalf of parties contesting the June polls.
Although President B.J. Habibie, who has the last say on the
matter, has not made any comment, there were strong reactions
among government officials, who are also activists of Golkar
Party.
The combative voices were anticipated since the officials, who
fall in the category mentioned by the commission's ruling,
include not only governors, regents, mayors and their deputies
but most importantly Cabinet ministers.
So for Golkar officials, who were the soldiers of the New
Order regime's dirty war against the people, any ruling which
puts an end to their manipulative tricks could mean defeat even
before the war starts because it is here where their secret power
lies.
On the other hand, by making the inspiring decision, the
commission has acted as a true people's body, whose integrity is
higher than the existing official legislative council which
represents only government-sanctioned political groupings. The
commission has voiced the aspirations of poor Indonesians, people
who are fed up with the Golkar's foul techniques.
The people, whose dreams of democracy were stifled for too
long, are weary with the party's political manipulations. People
still see red when reminded of how, in the past, Golkar reacted
with illogical self-justification every time the public protested
its premature electoral campaign activities, especially those
involving Cabinet ministers.
For rational people, Golkar statements are the same old much-
ado-about-nothing-logic because they have always been about
manipulation and imposition of fear. In facing a general
election, Golkar had an art of getting votes and campaign funds
from the cronies and tycoons it fattened.
Some officials also reacted by sarcastically advising the
commission to respect the supremacy of the law. This is rich,
coming as it does from an organization that has been on the wrong
side law for the three last decades.
The commission has complete authority in this ruling because
it has been given every right to decide the rules of the game for
all contesting parties.
Finally, amid the controversy of the campaign ruling for
officials, it seems that Habibie -- who decided last week to
prohibit five Cabinet ministers and the attorney general from
campaigning -- views the problem seriously, as can be seen by his
sudden announcement yesterday that it would be the Supreme
Court's job to decide.
The President, realizing that his government is considered
illegitimate by many, may have decided to let the Supreme Court
have the final decision and in this way avoid the possibility of
making any move that could prove fatal to his political future.
It is now up to the Supreme Court -- the credibility of which
has been compromised in the past after it was accused of dancing
to the executive branch's tune -- to decide whether it will once
again function as the last bastion of the law or issue a suicidal
decree which will be hazardous to the reform movement.
It is not too late for the country's highest judicial body to
bear in mind that the nation is now at a crossroads and there is
no U-turn toward dictatorship.