This election is no better than previous ones: CSIS

This election is no better than previous ones: CSIS

JAKARTA (JP): This year's general election will be no better
than previous ones, according to a recent report by the Centre
for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).

The CSIS study found that the 1997 general election process
relied on the same legislation which was used in past general
elections to maintain the status quo.

The study, which was obtained by The Jakarta Post yesterday,
says that most of its 294 respondents had negative views on the
May 29 election.

The center found that the quality of the election would be
poor because all the laws and state institutions relating to it
were designed to favor Golkar, the government-backed political
grouping.

The laws allow manipulation and poll rigging, the report says.

"These worries have grounds because all the legislative
instruments were formulated by the government.

"In real politics, it's clear that almost all government
officials are ex-officio executives of one of the contestants,
Golkar," the report says.

The center had surveyed people on their hopes, assessments and
expectations of the general election.

The respondents, consisting of community leaders, government
and military officials and politicians, were surveyed in in-depth
interviews in March in 23 regencies and mayoralties in Java and
Madura. The study also sought supplementary public responses
through the internet.

The study focused on people's predictions on the quality of
this year's election.

Respondents said the government used the general election as a
mere formality to maintain its legitimacy.

The study says the 1997 election "does not give a ray of hope"
for political reform in Indonesia.

The election is a tool by which politicians from Golkar, the
United Development Party (PPP) and the Indonesian Democratic
Party (PDI) meet their vested interests. The election will not
fulfill people's hopes for a better system, the survey report
says.

Golkar's practically five-year-long campaign in the form of
"cadres meetings" and PDI's split into two opposing camps will
contribute to the poor quality of the election.

"It is not surprising therefore that many people consider the
general election is a mere formality and a waste of money," the
report says.

The study concluded that Golkar would increase its absolute
majority and the PPP would gain more seats in the House of
Representatives at the cost of the PDI.

The study did not predict how many seats each party would
hold.

Golkar's and PPP's gains are likely to be partly due to the
unpopularity of the PDI's government-recognized chief Soerjadi.

Golkar is expected to do better than it did in 1992 because
its has spent five years campaigning for public support in some
areas of Central and East Java, which are PPP strongholds.

Golkar, PPP and PDI will vie for 425 seats in the House of
Representatives. In 1992, Golkar won 282 seats, PPP 62 and PDI
56.

Golkar aims to win 70.2 percent of the vote on May 29. The PPP
wants 22.5 percent. The PDI has no formal targets but Soerjadi
once said he hoped the party would win at least 33 seats in the
House.

T.A. Legowo of the CSIS said yesterday that he believed Golkar
would win between 65 percent and 70 percent of the vote. PPP
could enjoy an increase of up to 10 percent while PDI would see
its number of votes drop by up to 9 percent.

The report recommended that the state sincerely try to improve
the quality of general elections so that democracy could develop.

"Without sincere efforts to improve elections, political
manipulation will remain," the report said.

J. Kristiadi, also of CSIS, said the Golput call to boycott
the poll would achieve little except help Golkar win more seats.

Kristiadi said Golput was an urban phenomenon that was
unpopular in villages, where local officials make poll abstaining
almost impossible.

He said those in rural areas do not usually have the
abstaining option due to various reasons, including widespread
intimidation. "The villagers are afraid that if they abstain from
voting, they would be accused of being a communist," he said.
(pan)