No strong grounds to riot during polls: Psychologist
No strong grounds to riot during polls: Psychologist
A. Junaidi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
A psychologist dismissed on Saturday the possibility of mass
riots prior to, or during, the upcoming elections, saying that
there were no strong grounds for violence.
Psychologist Sarlito Wirawan Sarwono said Indonesia was now
economically and socially more advanced than during the 1999
elections.
"I'm sure there will be no mass violence. The current
situation is much better than when we held the 1999 general
election," Sarlito of the University of Indonesia said after
hosting a discussion titled Prospect of Violence: Past, Present
and Future.
He said the only possible source of violence would be from
politicians who had failed to win legislative seats.
He also warned the media against repeatedly quoting certain
state officials who had predicted possible bloodshed during the
elections.
"Violence could indeed eventuate if the media constantly warns
their readers of possible mass violence," he said after the
discussion, which was organized by the Leiden University Alumni
Union at Erasmus Huis here.
Last week, Indonesian Army chief of staff Gen. Ryamizard
Ryacudu warned of possible bloodshed during the elections and
said that the Indonesian Military (TNI) would take actions to
stop the violence.
His statement drew sharp criticism, as it was considered to be
part of the military's effort to return to politics.
Since the fall of former president Soeharto in May 1998,
Indonesia has been facing communal conflicts triggered by ethnic
or religious issues. It is also believed these conflicts are
instigated by those dissatisfied with the reform movement.
Indonesia will hold the legislative election on April 5 and
the first direct presidential election on July 5, with its run-
off on Sept. 20.
The General Elections Commission has declared 24 political
parties eligible to contest the polls, when people will elect
members of the House of Representatives (DPR), regional
legislatures (DPRD) and the Regional Council (DPD).
Speaking in the discussion, historian Adrian Lapian suggested
that violence could be avoided if people were willing to learn
from history.
"(The) State could use many methods, including traditional
ways to prevent violence," Lapian, who is also an emeritus
professor at the University of Indonesia, told the discussion.
Meanwhile, anthropologist Patricia Spyer asked politicians to
use peaceful campaign images, as happened in Maluku, where
sectarian conflict claimed 6,000 lives between 1999 and 2001.
"Children were encouraged to visualize peace and the images
were used during media promotions, including on the local
television station. It seemed to work," Spyer from Leiden
University, who had recently conducted a study on the peace
process in the Maluku capita of Ambon, told the discussion.