Securing representation for eastern Indonesia

Politicians saying they represent areas in eastern Indonesia, mainly Irian, Maluku, Sulawesi and Kalimantan, named the Iramasuka caucus, have been criticized for pursuing their own interests. Surabaya-based sociologist Daniel Sparingga of the Airlangga University shares his views on the subject.

Question: While the Iramasuka coalition is criticized of only representing the local elite, there was a display of strong regional sentiment, such as in the support of former president B.J. Habibie and businessmen Nurdin Halid and Baramuli, who were both charged with corruption. So is it true that Iramasuka members do not represent people in their regions?

Answer: The polarization of people in Makassar (South Sulawesi), for instance, is quite diverse. One cannot generalize that they all use regional symbols as a basis for motivations of power, there are also ethnic symbols involved. It is difficult to categorize Habibie regarding this (phenomenon).

He had actually disassociated himself from regional politics.

However, figures like Baramuli may still be included in the category (of using regional/ethnic symbols to gain power).

I'm actually surprised with him because his supporters include a number of intellectuals exposed to modern education.

Actually, the emergence of this Iramasuka cannot erase the feelings of injustice felt by people outside Java.

In the past, people from Makassar were very resentful when they were charged with spreading seeds of disunity after they stood up for Habibie. So how could eastern Indonesia be better represented?

Regardless of the political scramble for power, the selection of regional representatives must take place and it must be more selective because the selection would be the embryo for (the development of) regional representatives, or senators, which will be crucial in a two-chamber system of government.

The number of representatives for each province must be the same because they represent a region -- not a percentage proportion of the population. A province could be represented by two to four people.

Further, there must be fundamental changes to the electoral system (which emphasizes the district system rather than the current, largely proportional, system) and to the system for political parties.

A primarily proportional electoral system like we have now has still produced a floating elite. A primarily district system would be ideal, but this would need political awareness among the masses who do not have a parochial relationship with the elite. Is this possible here?

Frankly, I doubt whether this country could have a district system because of the highly parochial relationship between masses and their elite.

It has been within this context in which the Iramasuka emerged. Therefore, its figures and the other groups in the legislature and the People's Consultative Assembly are a floating elite.

The people do not have access to them. That is why bargaining for power flourishes.

The condition is worsened by the fact that the people have been marginalized from politics for quite a long time. The turning point was the allegations of the Buloggate and Bruneigate (financial scandals) charged by legislators against the President.

Apart from the disputes in the media, the conflict was only localized at the House of Representatives (DPR) building where the influence of Gus Dur (President Abdurrahman Wahid) is limited. People outside the House were only spectators.

This will also be the case in the special session (of the Assembly, MPR). Only Gus Dur's fanatic supporters will be the ones clapping.

The point is that, even with many political parties in the country, even with tolerance and regional autonomy, we still have the old patterns.

Could you elaborate?

People still imagine Jakarta and Java as the center of power. Iramasuka is in the middle of this, in between the spirit of regional autonomy and the continuation of centralistic patterns.

In the context of the Assembly special session, although the morality of the Iramasuka maneuvers may be questionable, (the coalition) could be crucial in terms of power.

So far, the political constellations at the DPR/MPR have been read along party lines, but the Iramasuka caucus offers an entirely different angle. (Asip A. Hasani)