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.