Indonesia's upcoming general election -- only the third free poll in its history -- is another milestone on the road to democracy after decades of dictatorship.
But analysts say the reform agenda is far from complete, despite the euphoria surrounding Suharto's departure in 1998 after three decades of iron-fisted rule.
While the first direct presidential election on July 5 is seen as genuine progress, observers see flaws in the April 5 parliamentary polls. Voters for the first time will choose a fully elected 550-seat national parliament after the military and police gave up their reserved seats.
PHOTO: AP
"It is definitely progress in our journey toward more democracy, but the problem is that this progress is still a far cry from what we had all hoped," said Andi Mallarangeng, a lecturer at Hassanuddin University, who is running for the Nationhood Democratic Unity Party.
For the first time, voters will be able to choose a candidate instead of just a party, a move aimed at making legislators more accountable to electors.
But a survey earlier this month showed that only 36 percent of respondents knew they could also vote for a candidate if they choose -- leaving the selection of legislators largely up to party bosses.
"The use of the names is in reality only camouflage, not a fundamental change ... the dominant player remains very much the political parties," said Bachtiar Effendi, a lecturer from the University of Indonesia.
Effendi and Mallarangeng said the ranking system -- the higher on the party list, the greater the chance of becoming an member of parliament -- was still very much in force.
The quality of parties and politicians was not up to expectations, constitutional amendments were still limited and corruption was still rampant, Mallarangeng said.
Group and individual interests still set government policies, he added.
The large number of parties, of which 24 are contesting this election, means party interests will continue to take priority over those of the nation, Effendi said.
"What is taking place is a politicization process, not a process to solve the problems arising from the past," he said.
Asmara Nababan, executive director of the Institute for the Study of Democracy and Human Rights, described progress towards democracy as "purely procedural."
He said the centralization of parties at national level left many groups unrepresented, such as the urban poor, farmers, industrial workers and fishermen.
Nababan added that the military, which dominated much of civilian life under Suharto, was regaining influence.
"Their power has strengthened in the past three years and this is reflected by the fact that they have been able to influence some policies of the government," Nababan said.
Nababan cited the launch of a massive military operation against Aceh separatist rebels in May last year as an example.
O.C. Kaligis, a prominent lawyer who has represented Suharto, listed a series of problems still facing the country.
He said corruption was even more widespread than in the past, the legislature was too powerful to let a government actually govern, prices of essentials remained high, per capita income was stagnant and the currency was still weak.
"Show me which reforms we all clamored for in 1998 have been addressed," he challenged.
Nearly half of China’s major cities are suffering “moderate to severe” levels of subsidence, putting millions of people at risk of flooding, especially as sea levels rise, according to a study of nationwide satellite data released yesterday. The authors of the paper, published by the journal Science, found that 45 percent of China’s urban land was sinking faster than 3mm per year, with 16 percent at more than 10mm per year, driven not only by declining water tables, but also the sheer weight of the built environment. With China’s urban population already in excess of 900 million people, “even a small portion
‘IN A DIFFERENT PLACE’: The envoy first visited Shanghai, where he attended a Chinese basketball playoff match, and is to meet top officials in Beijing tomorrow US Secretary of State Antony Blinken yesterday arrived in China on his second visit in a year as the US ramps up pressure on its rival over its support for Russia while also seeking to manage tensions with Beijing. The US diplomat tomorrow is to meet China’s top brass in Beijing, where he is also expected to plead for restraint as Taiwan inaugurates president-elect William Lai (賴清德), and to raise US concerns on Chinese trade practices. However, Blinken is also seeking to stabilize ties, with tensions between the world’s two largest economies easing since his previous visit in June last year. At the
UNSETTLING IMAGES: The scene took place in front of TV crews covering the Trump trial, with a CNN anchor calling it an ‘emotional and unbelievably disturbing moment’ A man who doused himself in an accelerant and set himself on fire outside the courthouse where former US president Donald Trump is on trial has died, police said yesterday. The New York City Police Department (NYPD) said the man was declared dead by staff at an area hospital. The man was in Collect Pond Park at about 1:30pm on Friday when he took out pamphlets espousing conspiracy theories, tossed them around, then doused himself in an accelerant and set himself on fire, officials and witnesses said. A large number of police officers were nearby when it happened. Some officers and bystanders rushed
Beijing is continuing to commit genocide and crimes against humanity against Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities in its western Xinjiang province, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a report published on Monday, ahead of his planned visit to China this week. The State Department’s annual human rights report, which documents abuses recorded all over the world during the previous calendar year, repeated language from previous years on the treatment of Muslims in Xinjiang, but the publication raises the issue ahead of delicate talks, including on the war in Ukraine and global trade, between the top U.S. diplomat and Chinese