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)