True democracy applicable?

True democracy applicable?

From Pikiran Rakyat

The term "democracy" is very familiar to our ears, and most of
the Indonesian people are struggling for democratization in all
fields, which is in line with the era of reform. And this very
process of democratization has given rise to the establishment of
tens of new political parties, each with its beautiful concept of
how democracy should be implemented.

However, the question that has yet to be answered is: Have we
really understood very well the true meaning of democracy in
greater details? What really is the source of democracy, the
principle on which democracy is based? What various ideas and
roles does democracy carry?

Democracy, in its genuine meaning, is only an ideal, a theory
that is not applicable. True democracy never has been and never
will be realized. Even in the countries of its birth (America and
Britain), democracy is not fully applicable. This is primarily
because of the fact that it is impossible for all the people
(continuously assembling in one place) to give the right
considerations to find a solution to every state of affair.
Neither is it possible for the people as a whole (assembling at
one particular place) to carry out administration.

In America and Britain, for instance, the head of state and
the people's representatives are elected to represent a minority,
and not a majority. They, in fact, only represent the interest of
the capitalist groups. Actually, a Moslem should only practice
the law of Allah.

Therefore, the statement claiming that the regulations and
laws decreed by the governments in democratic countries are a
realization of the people's aspirations and democracy, is in
essence far from reality.

VERTIE ORISA

Bandung, West Java