Political parties face difficulties from hegemony
Political parties face difficulties from hegemony
SEMARANG, Central Java (JP): Hegemony and pragmatism in Indonesian politics have denied political parties of their right to be independent, an expert here has said.
Dr. Afan Gaffar, a political expert from the University of Gadjah Mada in Yogyakarta told a seminar here yesterday that repressive conditions have placed the United Development Party (PPP) and the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) in an unfavorable position.
"On the other hand," Afan said, "the system has provided the opportunity for Golkar to win an absolute majority in all general elections," he said in a seminar on the independence of political parties in Indonesia.
He added that in this country the role of the two other political parties has been weakened.
According to the observer, political hegemony is the direct product of Indonesia's election process, the way leaders are recruited, ineffective party programs and internal conflicts within these political parties.
The present general election system has given vast power to the Minister of Home Affairs, who is also chairman of the election committee, Afan said.
He added that situation has been worsened by the right of military authorities to screen candidates for the legislative bodies and party activists, allowing the administration to hand pick only "accommodative candidates."
According to Afan, the election system, especially the methods of voter registration and ballot counting, is designed to perpetuate and defend the current political system.
When recruiting the leaders of social and political organizations, the administration also sets certain criteria in such a way that only those politicians willing to cooperate with the super-structure can be elected.
Afan said the parties' programs are subject to negotiation with the authorities, who play a dominant role in the election process.
He said that the administration has become so domineering that the political parties even have to negotiate the contents of campaign speeches with the election committee.
Mere symbols
"Political parties have been reduced to mere symbols," Afan said. He added that attempts to make PDI the party of the less privileged and PPP the party of justice have essentially failed.
However, Afan said that not all of the failures were caused by the intervention of "outside elements."
"The internal conflicts which have hit PDI and PPP since their birth in 1973 have painted a blurry picture of the Indonesian political system, he said.
Afan hoped that an emerging middle class would foster independent political parties.
Bintang Pamungkas, an outspoken legislator of the PPP, told the seminar that the lack of party independence was caused by the administration's dominant role in preserving stability.
He said the government needs stability to secure the success of the nation's development programs. To make the policy effective the administration places cabinet ministers in the People's Consultative Assembly, which is the country's highest law-making body, and civilian and military leaders in the House of Representatives (DPR).
"The DPR has no capacity to sponsor any bill because it has become subordinate to the administration. (har/tis)