Opposition needed

Opposition needed

The Indonesian media are very busy these days speculating
about possible coalitions ahead of the final outcome of the
general election. But there is so far hardly any discussion about
the crying need for an effective opposition in the legislature.

For instance, the writer of the article PDI-P, Golkar may need
to form coalition (The Jakarta Post, March 29) simply ignored
this issue by suggesting that the Indonesian Democratic Party of
Struggle (PDI-P) and the Golkar Party should form a strong
coalition. But how could such a coalition, for example, fight
corruption, collusion and nepotism, as it can be assumed that
each party would cover up the other's possible "bad deeds", true
to the maxim, "Dog won't eat dog."

All compromise Cabinets since Soeharto's downfall in 1998 have
proven that the absence of a legitimate opposition leads to the
stagnation of the reform movement, as well as of economic and
political development and of efforts to improve law enforcement.

The lack of an opposition that prevents the government from
acting arbitrarily and abusing its power means a threat to
democracy itself. A constructive opposition and press freedom are
essential elements in the functioning of a democracy. But the
press will certainly run the risk of losing its freedom if the
country is ruled by a big coalition like the PDI-P and Golkar.
Had a strong opposition existed in the past, an infringement of
press freedom like the Tempo affair might not have happened.

Thirty-two years of authoritarian rule and nearly six years of
weak leadership should set people thinking. Only talking about
the values of democracy means nothing if its demands are not
being served. And one of its demands is for a constructive
constitutional opposition. There is no substitute for it.

HILDE MAY

Jakarta