Nip it in the bud!
Nip it in the bud!
The series of violent clashes that broke out on Sunday between
supporters of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
Perjuangan) and the Golkar Party in Singaraja, Bali, raises grave
concerns for a number of reasons.
First, the clashes happened in Bali, the Island of the Gods,
famous throughout the world for its peaceful, highly-cultured and
religious people. Moreover, the killings took place in a small
village, Petandakan, some 100 kilometers from the island's
capital Denpasar. According to the official count, at least two
people were killed in the clashes.
Second, the victims and suspected perpetrators are long-time
neighbors in the same village. They probably attended the same
religious ceremonies, and the same community events and
celebrations. Thus, this tightly knit village would not be the
first place one would expect to find the sort of highly
politicized clashes that are normally associated with the
country's big cities, places where individualism reigns.
The violent clashes that shattered traditional Balinese
communal harmony last Sunday were very much in contrast to the
spirit of unity that we witnessed in the aftermath of the Legian-
Kuta bombings of Oct.12 last year, when more than 200 people were
killed. The terrorist bombings had all the elements necessary to
provoke brutal and violent reprisals in the community.
The perpetrators were not of the same ethnic group as the
majority of the local population, nor were they of the same
religion. Furthermore, the bombs went off in Bali's nightlife
center, an area which had for quite some time been very much
internationalized, with the basic tenets of communal life fast
disappearing.
Yet, immediately after the bombings, concerted efforts were
made by all concerned to avoid the expected violent communal
clashes from erupting. The Balinese people, in particular,
apprehended the dangers of the situation and took genuine and
meaningful initiatives to prevent them. The whole world was able
to observe, and appreciate, the strong bonds that held the
Balinese people together at that time. As a consequence, little
hostility ensued, and no communal clashes erupted after the
terrorist bombings.
No doubt many people in Bali now share the feelings expressed
by Bali Police chief Insp. Gen. Made Mangku Pastika when he said
the other day: "I used to be very proud of being a Balinese; now
I'm ashamed." Pastika was appointed last year to head the
investigation into the terrorist bombings and, quite
understandably, very much feared a backlash.
So for him, as for many other people who are familiar with
Balinese culture and heritage, it is very difficult to understand
what happened in Petandakan village over the weekend.
And that incident raises bigger concerns that extend beyond
the shores of Bali. The recent violent clashes on the island are
related in one way or another to the series of anniversary
celebrations being held by the Golkar Party in Bali, long known
as a stronghold of the PDI Perjuangan. These two parties led the
field in the last general election in 1999. Both are the
strongest contenders in the series of general and presidential
elections coming up next year.
The year 2004 will be a unique, unprecedented and highly
politicized year for Indonesia. In April 2004, the general
election will decide the distribution of seats for four different
legislative bodies throughout Indonesia: the House of
Representatives at the national level, the Regional
Representatives Council at the national level, local legislative
assemblies at the provincial level, and local legislative
councils at the regency/municipality level.
This means that there will be thousands of names of candidates
to be selected, and scores of political parties to be chosen
from. The ballot papers themselves will be more than enough to
confuse the average voter. The system, and the rules and
regulations for the general election will not be the same as
those used in previous general elections. Almost everything is
new and also much more complicated than people remember. Mock
elections organized by the Center for Electoral Reform (Cetro)
across the country recently have suggested that most people do
not understand how the new electoral system works.
To further complicate matters, the general election will be
followed by a two-stage presidential election, which for the
first time in Indonesian history will be direct. The first round
is scheduled for July. If no candidate gains half of the total
votes validly cast, which is highly likely, a second round will
be held in September 2004.
Indonesian voters, about 145 million of them, will enter a
highly politicized period lasting for at least seven consecutive
months, starting with the election campaign in March and
continuing through the second round of the presidential election
in September.
It will be a totally new political experience for Indonesian
voters. Thus, the necessity for rules governing public
campaigning as proposed by President Megawati to the General
Elections Commission (KPU) last Monday
This process, which is intended to lead to a more democratic
Indonesia, will be exhausting for everybody, and exhausted and
confused people tend to be very sensitive and distrustful.
Bearing that in mind, Indonesia cannot afford a repeat of the
Singaraja clashes, especially next year.
To avoid that, the government must immediately take resolute
action, not only against the perpetrators of the brutal killings,
but also against the members of the political elite who allowed
this kind of violence to happen.