Pancasila democracy

Pancasila democracy

From Merdeka

As a citizen of 60 years old, I am happy with President Soeharto's order to the Indonesian Institute of Sciences to find the best system for general elections and to analyze the function of the Armed Forces (ABRI) in the House of Representatives. This indicates that President Soeharto is sensitive enough on the current social political situation. Some have voiced that the implementation of democracy is not fully compatible with the principles of Pancasila and the 1945 Constitution.

In this context I would like to make a few suggestions.

* It is high time that the general election system is reviewed and changed into a district system so that the elected legislators truly represent the people and, in turn, the people can ask them to be accountable for what they do. Provincial legislature should be abolished, because it is redundant. We need only to keep the regent's legislative body and the House.

* The dual function of the Armed Forces should be maintained, but the number of ABRI representatives in the House and the regional legislature should be cut by about 25 percent of the present number. If necessary, the House Speaker and the Head of the House Commissions could be taken from the Armed Forces faction, because they are needed as mediators and leaders in the interest of the nation.

* The number of the appointed members of the People's Consultative Assembly should also be reduced by about 50 percent.

* The election laws, the standing orders of the House and the law of mass and political organizations should also be reviewed so that democracy can be correctly implemented.

* An anti-monopoly law, aimed at protecting small-scale businesses, should be established. The activities of large-scale businesses should be limited to avoid the inclusion of business of all sectors, big and small, in their coverage.

SUHARSONO

Jakarta