Society needs more time for democracy: Observers
JAKARTA (JP): Observers noted here over the weekend that both the government and society at large would have to mature further before democratization could occur in the country.
Speaking at a seminar on Menuju Pendewasaan Politik Bangsa (Toward the Nation's Political Maturity), they said that events of the past year showed that the nation still lacked political maturity.
Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) senior member Sabam Sirait maintained that the government was largely still unresponsive to people's political demands.
"The nation's political immaturity has been evident since the beginning of the year, with rigid government rulings in response to the public's calls for change to the general election system," said the former legislator.
Political observers and activists have repeatedly criticized the proportional electoral system, which they claim fails to elect legislators who are accountable to their constituents.
Sabam said the decision by the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) to belittle the proposal for a presidential term limitation was another example of the nation's political immaturity.
Sabam, however, said that political immaturity was not only the government's failing but also society's.
He cited the prolonged internal bickering within the PDI which he said was caused by PDI members' misunderstanding of democratic principles.
Similarly, Amien Rais, chairman of the Muhammadiyah Moslem Organization, criticized the Assembly's unwillingness to at least consider limiting the presidential term.
"We claim that we are a democratic society. Yet, we are still willing to have a lifelong president," he said.
The Assembly will convene in March to elect a president and vice president and adopt the State Policy Guidelines.
The dominant Golkar faction has declared it will renominate President Soeharto, who ends his sixth consecutive presidential term next year, for another term.
Political scientist Indria Samego suggested that political maturity could not emerge without the willingness to interchange ideas.
"We have to develop a positive attitude toward other people's input and criticism," he said.
Anas Urbaningrum highlighted a similar point, saying that political elites were insensitive to the prevailing dynamism, especially among the young generation.
"Riots and people's violent actions happened in response to the elites' inability to comprehend the ongoing dynamism, which obviously was the result of development," said Anas who is chairman of the Association of Islamic Students (HMI).
The seminar, which was organized by the Muhammadiyah Moslem Students Organization in the main hall of the National Institute of Sciences (LIPI) Saturday, was marred by a minor incident in which the first speaker walked out.
Sayidiman Suryohadiprojo had just begun his scheduled 20- minute presentation but was twice interrupted by the moderator, Ekky Syahrudin, who told him to get straight to the point.
Sayidiman, a former governor of the National Resilience Institute, left the seminar and the organizers turned to Sabam to continue the discussion. (imn)