Me in Election 1999

'Reformasi' faces its moment of truth
By Kafil Yamin

JAKARTA - For Pipit Apriani, the best thing about Indonesia's June 7 general election is being able to volunteer for poll monitoring - which in the past has been a life-threatening endeavor.

The election-monitoring body she chairs is located in WestJakarta, with a huge billboard in front of it that says ''KIPP'',the Indonesian acronym for Komite Independen Pemantau Pemilu or the Independent Committee for Election Monitoring.

Since earlier in the year, KIPP has been busy signing up volunteers, and recruitment soon spread to various districts inJakarta. This reflects keen interest in ensuring the success of the June7 parliamentary election, Indonesia's first free poll in more thanfour decades.

''Thanks to the new era, we can now have our office here. Wecan put up a billboard, distribute leaflets and open registrationfor volunteers openly,'' Pipit said, reveling in the air of political freedom since President Suharto was forced to quit in May 1998.

''When this body was established in 1996, under the old regime, our regional offices were ransacked. Some of them were burnt. Our volunteers were chased, kidnapped and tortured,'' she recalled. Now, KIPP West Jakarta, which Pipit chairs, has recruited 4,360 volunteers, among them students, employees and a few businessmen.

Rusli, a trader who joined the volunteer force, said: ''We don't want to see an election filled with intimidation,cheating and fraud like we witnessed in the past. We've beendisgusted with dirty and shameful games."

Due to reports of ''money politics'' conducted by the ruling Golkar party and its allies, many Indonesians remain skeptical about the professed ''free, fair and just'' election on June 7.

Still, they see Monday's poll as a crucial moment and important passage for Indonesia toward a new era. For many, this era has not been the death knell for Suharto's ''NewOrder'', but is more a ''moment of truth'' for the reformation movement. So far, ''reformasi'', the Indonesian term that has become known around the world, has led to political openness and press freedom.

The government of President Bacharuddin Jusuf Habibie has,under public pressure for change, allowed 48 political parties to contest this election, and hundreds of new press licenses have been issued.

In the three-week campaign period, Indonesia's major cities have become stages for cavalcades, carnivals, vehicle convoys,and rallies by various political parties.

But the noise and process of elections will not automatically lead to political change, a shift in the power structure inIndonesia, analysts say. ''This fan fare shows that we have had a more favorable political climate, but low political awareness,'' said political expert Dr. Facry Ali. He says the present political openness is not being utilized for public political education and improving political awareness, but for expressing ''street passions and anarchy."

Dedi Gunadi, a youth supporter of the opposition PDI Perjuangan led by Megawati Sukarnoputri, confesses to knowing nothing abouthis party's program and agenda. The only thing he knows is that the party is led by Megawati,the daughter of Indonesia's founding president Sukarno and the candidate expected to be one of the leading contenders for the presidency later this year. Dedi has painted his face red - the color of Megawati's party - and joined fellow supporters dancing and shouting along Sudirman Avenue, their actions paralyzing traffic in central Jakarta.

Iqbal Subhan, a youth supporter of the United Development Party,climbed the welcome statue in Thamrin Avenue and put the party's flag on top of it during a campaign rally. He says he was told the party is Muslim. ''I am a Muslim. So I support this party,'' he said.

Leni Munarni, a university student, joined the National Mandate Party (PAN) rallies because she likes Amien Rais, the party's leader. ''I am not well-informed about PAN's agenda, what I know isthat the man (Rais) is a staunch reformist,'' she said from hercar, one in a PAN vehicle convoy.

When the campaign period ends, two days of ''rest'' will follow before the country's 130 million voters cast ballots for national, provincial and regency level parliaments. The election commission gave the 48 parties until June 4 to enter into 11th-hour vote sharing agreements. With most opinion polls predicting no clear winner, several partieshave agreed to contribute their extra votes to the main winner intheir group.

The three main opposition parties in the polls, which include Megawati and Rais' parties, have balked at entering any formal coalition but have signed a loose alliance to ensure that the ruling Golkar party does not gain the upper hand in the polls.

And while admitting the lack of an education-oriented poll campaign so far, many Indonesians are relieved with what so far isthe biggest gain of the campaign season: the absence of seriousviolence and unrest.

''This is an encouraging development. Let's talk about goodcampaign and political maturity later. I am glad to notice that we have been able to leave violent acts and anarchy behind during this campaigning,'' argued Pipit.

Political maturity may be a long time away, but ''we, the government andthe community, have made a good start,'' she added. ''I don't expect this election to be totallyfair, free and honest. But for a starter, it gives us optimism."

(Inter Press Service)

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