Nothing like campaigning

This is Indonesia's first democratic election, or at least that is what it is being billed as, in quite a long time. The world looks on with great anticipation to see how Indonesian's conduct themselves with their new found freedom. It is bewildering then to see just how we act during the campaign. What is the point of each party parading around the streets and tying up traffic? Does anyone think that people will change their vote after seeing a line of buses with people crammed inside and on top, motorcycles with sometimes as many as five people on them, all carrying party flags, scooters, bicycles and pedestrians acting like a group of clowns?

Most of the people in the parades are obviously not old enough to vote. One has to wonder what they are doing there. Are they paid to turn out? The atmosphere is similar to what I would think it is like at Mardi Gras in Brazil or an American fraternity party. Young boys and girls sit on the top of buses smoking cigarettes and throwing their trash in the street. Furthermore, these street rallies cause pollution and are expensive.

There are some people who still work and the mess this campaign has brought to the streets hinders them in performing their jobs. People often cannot leave their offices. Should Jakarta be closed down for campaigning?

Shouldn't this campaign be instructive instead of destructive? What have we learned from these street pageants about any of the 48 parties' platforms? Do we understand the democratic process? Or are we seen as party-loving fools, doing nothing but wasting our energy? Do we want nothing more than a good time, not really caring who gets elected?

FIRMAN IBRAHIM

Jakarta