Poll must go on, 'come hell or high water'

Poll must go on, 'come hell or high water'

JAKARTA (JP): The June 7 general election must be held no
matter what, respected scholars Nurcholish Madjid and Mochtar
Pabottingi said on Thursday.

Speaking at a discussion here, both scholars strove to fend
off growing pessimism among some people the poll could be delayed
due to recent unrest which has broken out in a number of regions
across the country.

"We are not in a situation to choose from either a good or bad
situation, but (to choose) from either a bad or worse situation,"
Pabottingi of the Indonesian Institute of Sciences said.

"Despite the riots, we are on the right track (for reform),"
Nurcholish, the Rector of Paramadina Islamic University, said.

Renowned sociologist Ignas Kleden moderated the discussion,
which was held to mark the launching of Partai Partai Politik
Indonesia (Indonesian Political Parties), published by Kompas
daily.

Over 150 people -- including politicians from a number of
newly formed political parties, students and political scientists
-- were present at the discussion. Kompas chief editor Jakob
Oetama also spoke at the discussion.

During the discussion, controversial soothsayer Permadi said
the June polls should be delayed, saying the polls were
undemocratic.

According to him, the newly established political laws made
free and fair polls impossible. He cited the allotment of
unelected legislative seats for a number of groups, including 38
seats in the House of Representatives for the Armed Forces.

"Let's not make this poll a new tyranny for us," he said.

He also said: "It's very realistic, what Soeharto said."

Permadi was referring to former president Soeharto, who in a
recent interview with a Tokyo-based newspaper said it was
impossible the upcoming polls would be free and fair.

Love the Nation Democratic Party secretary-general Seto
Harianto, responding to Permadi, said: "We would rather face a
new tyranny than remain under the old tyranny."

Pabottingi warned Permadi of tempting fate, saying the whole
nation should maintain "positive thinking" rather than remaining
pessimistic.

"Yes, we are in the worst of times ... but we are moving in
the right direction," he said.

Nurcholish said the upcoming elections from the very start
were intended to "solve the problems" caused by the lack of
legitimacy of the present government.

The elections may not be a panacea, Nurcholish said, but they
would at least bring the nation to the gate of "true reform".

"But whoever establishes the government after this poll, they
must always regard themselves as merely a temporary government,
one which is working to complete the course of the present
reform," he said.

Nurcholish also spoke of the virtue of patience, saying if
reform was not carried out in haste, Indonesia still would be
able to become the world's third largest democracy -- after the
United States and India -- in 2025.

He underscored the need for future legitimate governments to
continue to amend the 1945 Constitution, which he said was "too
simple for a nation as large as Indonesia".

Ignas spoke of the similarity of the present era with 1945,
the year the nation gained its independence.

"There were debates then whether we were ready to be
independent. (Founding president) Sukarno replied we needed to be
independent to be ready," Ignas said, summing up the discussion.
(aan)