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THE GENERAL ELECTION: CHOSEN BEFORE BEING ELECTED

In May this year, those Indonesians who are entitled, to vote under present Indonesian law will elect their representatives to thePeoples' Consultative Assembly (MPR) and the House of Representatives (DPR). The new MPR, some of whose members are elected and some appointed, will choose a President for the 1983-1988 term of office. The President will then choose a vice-President. 'Under the Indonesian system as regulated by General Suharto's regime, there are three political parties, the PDI (Indonesian Democratic Party), the PPP (United Development Party), and GOLKAR (Functional Groups).
These parties play a significant role in keeping the Suharto government in power.Although the names and symbols of these three parties are very different from each other, the political ideology regulating the direction and nature of their activities is the same; the 1945 Constitutjon (UUD45) and the State Ideology (pancasila). The similarity of their basic principles means that the members of the new MPR and DPR could in fact be appointed by the traditional Indonesian method of negotiation and discussion rather than going thröugh the formality of a so-called general election. But since a general election is regarded as the way of showing that democracy exists in a society, the Suharto regime insists on holding election in order to demonstrate that democracy is alive and well in Indonesia.
Beneath the Garuda bird on tlIe sacred Indonesian national emblem are written tlIe words Bhineka Tunggal Ika which mean "Unity in Diversity". This motto is no guarantee that people, who are entitled to vote automatically have equal rights to stand for election. Paragraph 6 of the Constitutlon states : "The President shall be a native (asli) Indonesian." * It is not necessary to summon Hitler from his grave or to a invite the pro-apartheid South African Government to tell us about racial discrirnination. It is a legal fact that racism holds a position of great honour in the Indonesian state.Referring to the forthcoming election, General Suharto speaking as Head of State, categorically stated in his presidential adaress on 17 August 1981 that although the Armed Forces (ABRI) would not take part in the elections, they would be given a third of the seats in the MPR, and l 00 of the 460 seats in the DPR. According to Suharto, ABRI's role in these bodies is as "stabiliser" and "dynamiser" in irnplementation of their legislative task and to controi ,the primary' functions of Parliament for the "smooth and proper" enactment of laws.
(1)Acording to Jakarta press reports GOLKAR is expected to win 80 per cent of the votes.(2 ) GOLKAR has also proposed that General Suharto should serve another term of office as president for the period of 1983-1988. On the matter of Vlce-president, the leader of GOLKAR, Amir Murtono sad: "The Vice-President. must be able to sleep on the same pillowas the President." (3) One Moslem group, Pembina Iman Tantrid Islam, has suggested that the MPR should appoint Mrs Tien Suharto as Vice-President (4)GOLKAR's proposal that Suharto should be President has received strong support. Those in power, that is to say his close associates in Jakarta as well as overseas, support his efforts to implement the Five Year "Impoverishment" Plan (PELITA). All that has been achieved. with his plan is that 51 per cent of the Indonesian population live below the poverty line. (5)In international circles he is supported in particular by the member states of the IGGI (Inter-Governmenta1 Group on Indonesia). Thanks to General Suharto's authority, Japan had invested US $34,490,000, 000 in Indonesia by 1980. (6) The main source of Indonesia's revenue is oil and natural gas. Of the 16 companies extracting oil and gas in Indonesia, 11 are US-owned. Not long ago, the US Vice President George Bush said in Manila that US policies preferred "authoritarian" to "totalitarian" governments, after a somewhat cynical remark about "loving your democratic processes" . (7) This is not surprising since the USA intends to increase military aid to Indonesia and other ASEAN countries.(8)Neither is it strange that there is general agreerwn that Suharto will continue as Head of State for a fourth term (1982-1988) since one-third of the seats in the MPR are occupied by ABRI and the remainder monopolised by GOLKAR, the largest political party.
Although the positions of Suharto and the m)embers of the MPR and DPR have already been determined in advance of the election farce on 4th May, it should be understood that if something happens suddenly and someone else is crowned instead of Suharto, a change of personnel without a change in the social, political and economic system is no guarantee that the Indonesian people will be any better off, particulärly the 51 per cent who live below die poverty level. Poverty, oppression, exploitation of natural resources, and racial discrimination will continue. Basic human rights in Indonesia can only be full y realised in everyday life by striving for them by other means than the farce of a general election.*
That is, not a member of ethinc minority such as the Chinese.
Footnotes
1. Angkatan Bersenjata, 18 August, 1981.
2. Tempo, 27 July, 1981.
3. Merdeka, 2 November, 1981.
4. Tempo, 14 November, 1981.
5~Merdeka, 12 November, 1981.
6. Kompas, 15 Au~st, 1-981.
7. Financial Times, 8 February, 1982, Section nI.
8. Statement of Ambassador John H. Holdridge, Assistant Secretary of State, East Asian and Pacific Affairs, Senate Foreign Relations Committee, 15 July, 1981 (Hearings on US-Asiab Issues).
See also Kompas, 6 November, 1981.
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