People's democracy
People's democracy
The preservation of our new found democracy rests on making the
process and system relevant to the people.
Pro-democracy activists can shout and clamor for it as much as
they want, but without witnessing the fruits of a democratic
system, democracy will be a fleeting slogan.
The free and fair elections of 1999 and 2004 were a giant leap
of faith for the Indonesian people. They embraced a system which
had been shunned for over four decades.
Starting today the nation engages in a process which promises
to deepen and institutionalize democratic traditions at the
grassroots level.
The start of local administrative elections is an exciting,
exhilarating, yet worrisome process all at the same time.
Watching history unfold and being part of a practice which
will shape the future of the country is an exciting event many of
us thought would never occur.
The exhilaration of having direct input in the making of local
government and having our aspirations listened to is another
luxury which was unthinkable less than a decade ago.
But the outcome rarely meets the promise. If that is the case
in our fledgling democracy, then the start of the local elections
is a harbinger of tough times ahead. Combined with the potential
for local clashes, vote buying and ballot fraud, the coming
headache sometimes does not seem worth the trouble.
But without this process -- a painful learning experience in
its initial stages -- many of the ideals sought post-reformasi
will be difficult to realize.
Accountability is one of the fundamental tenets of a
democratic system. Local elections allows for the governed to
judge for themselves whether those elevated to positions of power
have done what is asked of them.
Local elections also provide a sense of identity for the
hundreds of millions scattered across the archipelago. Through
the elections they can sense that they are part of the process of
government and politics usually dominated by the elite in
Jakarta.
A less noticeable, but important outgrowth of local elections
is that it infuses democratic habits in the people at the lowest
level, which in turn constructs the single strongest roadblock
toward a reversion to totalitarian ways.
Once people have tasted and practiced their democratic rights
it will be difficult for them to willingly waive them.
Much of the onus now rests on the local election commissions,
and the elected candidates.
It is imperative that the election commissions conduct their
duty in the most scrupulous manner. Anything less could diminish
the final outcome of the elections. The legitimacy of the local
elections depends on the executors of the process.
There may be imperfections in the running of the elections and
criticism by those dissatisfied with it, but if the credibility
of the commission remains intact trust in the process and
legitimacy of the outcome will be respected.
From there much hope will be placed in the elected officials
and councillors. They have the power to reinforce or shatter the
dreams of a democratic system.
Their performance will determine whether it was worth all the
trouble, or if democracy may not be suitable after all for
Indonesia.
In many of the elections we are about to witness in the coming
months, Jakarta's political influence will still be felt in many
local races: Candidates who are more known to Jakartans than the
local district residents who are supposed to elect them; split
tickets based on agreements by the central boards of political
parties in Jakarta.
Unfortunately, these are facts of life which for now cannot be
avoided. We can only hope that these shortcomings do not detract
from a process which, if conducted with patience and
perseverance, promises us much.