The election agenda

With Monday's announcement of the campaign and voting schedule for the June general election, this country's first truly free election in 44 years -- and only the second in the republic's 54 years of existence -- is a step closer to becoming reality.

As might be expected given heavy pressure in terms of time available and political acceptability, it is an exceptionally tight schedule, and one bound to invite criticism on several of its points. Which is not to mention that there are enough people in our community who reject outright the very idea of the current government of President B.J. Habibie -- which they regard as constitutionally illegitimate, or transitional at best -- conducting a general election.

Some hurdles may have to be overcome right from the start of the planned timetable regarding registration and selection of political parties eligible to contest the election -- a month- long process that should have begun, theoretically, on Feb. 1 and end on March 1.

With only 30 of the almost 200 political parties expected to be eligible, it is easy to perceive the difficulty officials will have in explaining the decision to those parties ultimately left out. In anticipating this snag, the authorities have proposed appointing a team of 11 "independent" judges of impeccable personal and political integrity to do the selecting. All the same, it is a critical process with the potential to stir up tensions at a time when calm and judgmatic thinking is needed.

Voter registration is a second point on the agenda that could cause problems, turnout problems in particular. Because of the time shortage, officials will not be making house-to-house calls, as was the practice in previous elections, to compile names of eligible voters. Instead, it is the voters themselves who are expected to visit registration posts to enter their names, and political parties are advised to urge potential voters to follow the procedure. While this could possibly reduce the chance of cheating by partisan officials through the adding or omitting of names, it remains questionable how the vast majority of Indonesians, unused to this kind of procedure, will respond.

Many ordinary citizens no doubt welcome the authorities' decision to discourage, or even ban, street rallies during the campaign and encourage indoor gatherings instead. How effective such indoor, dialog-type rallies can be in this country at this time remains to be seen. In any event, even the authorities admit that it will be difficult to prevent bands of campaigners from roaming through the streets while moving from one location to another. Even with "only" 30 parties participating, the campaign period, from May 18 to June 6, will be loaded with the potential for conflict. Since trouble at this stage could easily endanger the whole election process, the task of maintaining public order at this time must rest not with the security officials alone, but with the community as a whole.

Although not all may concur, it is generally agreed that the June 7 general election provides the best, if not the only, chance to bring a peaceful end to the crisis that has crippled this nation for more than a year. While difficulties involved in the implementation of the election agenda could seriously affect the poll outcome, any remaining loopholes in the newly passed political laws which could foil the process of democratization would be sure to have long-term political effects on the nation.

With no intention to be partial, it is a pity to note that so far little action has been evident from newly established political parties -- with the possible exception of Amien Rais' National Mandate Party -- to try to correct any remaining shortcomings in those laws and procedures. For those who have not sufficiently aired their aspirations, the coming weeks may provide a last chance to put in order whatever loose ends remain.