Playing with politics

Playing with politics

It is certainly a relief to learn that the government has
finally presented the drafts on political laws -- which many hope
will provide the foundations of our democracy -- to the House of
Representatives (DPR). The bills, on political parties, general
elections, the composition of the People's Consultative Assembly
(MPR), the House of Representatives (DPR) and the first and
second level regional legislative councils (DPRDs), were
submitted on Thursday.

Deliberations should begin this week. Although late in coming
-- we recall that President B.J. Habibie had promised to present
the bills in August -- there is no reason why they cannot be
completed in time to allow the country to hold a general election
in May as scheduled. Our chief concern is not so much about the
timing, as the extent to which these new laws would ensure a
truly democratic system, and whether the deliberations in the
House would also be democratic.

On these two fronts, unfortunately, the picture is not very
encouraging. To start with, the bills were drafted by the
government with little consultation from outside, except with the
dominant political grouping Golkar and the Armed Forces (ABRI),
both considered to be within Habibie's inner circle. Golkar and
ABRI also dominate the House. They have the numbers necessary to
ensure they have their way, either through the behind-the-scene
arm twisting to reach consensus as in the past, or through voting
in the House.

To be fair to the government, the political system envisaged
by the proposed legislation represents a major departure from the
old system, which as we know, was designed single-handedly by the
autocratic Soeharto, with the support of Golkar and ABRI, to
sustain his power, which lasted for 32 years.

Among the major differences in the new system are: a greater
emphasis on a district over a proportional representative
electoral system; a multiparty system against only three
political groups contesting the polls; more elected, rather than
appointed, representatives in the MPR and the DPR; a significant
cut in the number of ABRI appointees in the MPR and DPR; and a
greater role for the public and the political parties vis-a-vis
the government in overseeing and administering general elections.

Through these bills, Habibie appears to be trying to remove
many of the weaknesses of the past system. At first glance, there
seems to be a genuine attempt on his part to change, and to move
toward a more open and democratic political system. But first
impressions can be deceptive. No person in their right mind and
with strong concern for the nation should fall into this trap.

We have to constantly remind ourselves that most of those in
the government, ABRI, the MPR and DPR are essentially the same
people who barely six months ago gave their unquestionable
support not only to Soeharto, but also to the corrupt political
system. They had rejected the demands for reforms until the very
last minute and jumped ships just in time, when it became
apparent that Soeharto was losing his grip.

By default rather than by the will of the people, they are now
entrusted to lead the nation down the path of reform. Still,
given their recent history, their intentions must be questioned.
They cannot and must not be trusted.

They are giving as little as possible, responding only to
demands. The fact that they are now talking about reform cannot
be genuine, but rather a response to the needs of the time.
Things could be different if Habibie had stuck to his promise not
to run for president. But it is now clear he and his inner circle
have a vested interest in seeing that the electoral system
returns both himself and Golkar to power next year.

The rest of the nation is left with no choice but to allow the
DPR and MPR, whose members are essentially the same as those six
months ago, to deliberate on the political bills. Yet, the rest
of the nation should not simply sit and watch. We can exert
pressure, even greater pressure than we have been exerting,
through demonstrations and discourses to let them know of our
position.

History has shown that these politicians would only give
concessions under pressure. If we want maximum concessions from
them, we simply have to exert maximum pressure. Democracy, and
therefore the future of our nation, is far too precious to be
left in the hands of the likes of Habibie and his inner circle.