Parties without financial accountability

Parties without financial accountability

There are many bad stories about political parties, which
often become problems rather than solutions. One of the absolute
facts is that their function is to channel the people's
aspirations during general elections. But here in Indonesia this
function has become artificial.

One current problem that is particularly shameful is their
financial accountability. The Supreme Court has even sent parties
a third written reminder about their obligation to submit their
financial reports.

But not only that. The General Elections Commission (KPU), the
organizer of elections, has apparently filed a rather poor
financial report. It has not been able to account for some of its
expenses.

We are now witnessing a process where institutions normally
responsible for correcting mistakes and making people aware are
themselves trying to deceive the public. Political parties that
are supposed to take the lead in fighting corruption turn out to
be corrupt themselves. They do not teach politics but self-
destruction.

The Supreme Court should not issue mere recommendations in the
cases involving parties, but rather sanctions, namely rulings
disbanding those parties that fail properly to report their
financial affairs.

These parties exist merely as a means for their leaders to
make a living. This is why civilized politics is something that
has yet to come into being in this country. The political parties
have neither vision nor mission. How can they say they are
civilized if they are afraid of being audited transparently?

-- Media Indonesia, Jakarta