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)