Scholars give thumbs down on 1997 elections
Scholars give thumbs down on 1997 elections
YOGYAKARTA (JP): Two political analysts have poured cold water
on rising expectations that the 1997 general election will usher
in a new era of democracy in Indonesia.
Riswanda Imawan of Gadjah Mada University said that
politically, Indonesia is still immature while Yusril Ihza
Mahendra of the University of Indonesia said that without any
major changes in the political and electoral laws, 1997 will not
be that different from any of the elections in Indonesia since
1971.
Speaking at a seminar on the upcoming elections, both Riswanda
and Yusril pinned the problem on the same thing -- too much state
intervention.
The seminar on Thursday was organized by Atma Jaya University.
The general election in 1997, the sixth to be held under
President Soeharto since 1971, will be contested by three
government-sanctioned parties: Golkar, the United Development
Party and the Indonesian Democratic Party.
Riswanda said state intervention and a depoliticized culture
have meant that Indonesia cannot respond to political challenges
because society is still in its political infancy.
The political maturity desired by all is still more of a dream
than a reality, he said.
Because of the strong presence and control of the state in
people's daily activities, he said a large segment of society has
become apolitical and apathetic.
The regulation requiring permits for any gathering, he added,
is one of the many factors that has contributed to this
situation.
Riswanda said another cause of political apathy is the
weakening political ethics of the ruling elite.
Campaigns
This is reflected in farcical election campaigns, which he
described as nothing more than entertainment rather than a means
of politically educating the people.
"The election campaign materials and the candidates brought
forth are often insignificant to the substance of issues faced by
society," he remarked.
Yusril said those who are looking for democratic progress in
the coming elections are bound to be disappointed.
"The maintenance of election rules and laws still pinned on
the ideals contained in 1969 laws will result in the coming 1997
election having little difference from prior elections since
1971," he said.
He said elections rely much on the vigor of political parties
which, in Indonesia, are strictly controlled and financed by the
state under law No. 3/1985.
"The role of the state is very dominant, such as the authority
given to the Minister of Home Affairs as the patron of domestic
politics," he said of the legislation.
The law marginalizes political parties in terms of state
decision making. "Political parties seem to be helpless. They
have no independence or even autonomy which is what a democratic
system should be about," he said. (har/mds)