Basis for Indonesian Democracy
General
In Indonesia, the process of developing democratic institutions began with the Independence Proclamation on August 17, 1945. A four-year revolutionary war followed this, which ended more than 350 years of colonial occupation.
Independence also led to a series of separatist movements in far-flung parts of the new country and ushered in some 20 years of turmoil, during which the 1945 Constitution was put aside. An impression that each politician in Indonesia had his own party and programme was reinforced in 1955, when the first election was held after 26 years of independence, some 40 political parties contested for 257 parliamentary seats. During this period, new cabinets took office every six months. Indonesia's national motto, "Unity in Diversity," showed much diversity, with little unity.
This period of instability also saw the growth of the largest Communist Party in the world, outside of the Communist-governed countries of China and the former Soviet Union.
During this period, the ideals of Indonesia's independence movement were largely ignored. These ideals, which had knitted Indonesians together in their struggle for independence, had been incorporated into five moral and philosophical principles, known as Pancasila, that were incorporated into the Constitution. Any hopes of implementing Pancasila and the Constitution were dashed in 1956 when an unelected council and president took control of the nation.
Meanwhile, economic conditions deteriorated as rapidly as political conditions. Despite the fertility of Indonesia's soil and the productivity of its farmers, Indonesians were unable to feed themselves. Financial resources were squandered; malnutrition and starvation became rampant.
Indonesia's rapidly accelerating descent into chaos and anarchy was halted only after a near-successful Communist coup was thwarted on October 1, 1965. But stability and a return to the ideals of Indonesia's revolution did not begin until March 11, 1966, when a special directive transferred presidential power from then-President Soekarno, who had led Indonesia to independence, to Soeharto, the general who rallied forces to defeat the Communist coup attempt and then halted the widespread violence that immediately followed.
It was not until March 1967, however, that Soeharto was named Acting President by a special session of the Provisional People's Consultative Assembly. Four years later, with stability assured, the first constitutional election was held. The new People's Consultative Assembly, organized according to the 1945 Constitution, elected Soeharto to a five-year term as President in 1973, according to procedures specified in the Constitution.
From its beginning, President Soeharto's New Order Government took steps to create a stable society by introducing constitutional government and implementing a wide range of political, economic and social development programmes.
Foreign observers - particularly from Western nations that have historically have been homogeneous in race and religion - often express surprise at the stability and harmony of Indonesia's incredibly diverse political and cultural life. While other nations have suffered through painful and destructive periods of communal turmoil, Indonesia has remained relatively free of racial, religious, economic or political tension.
Most of the credit for this record belongs to a political system that emphasizes mutual understanding and harmony rather than adversarial relationships. Unlike societies that emphasize individualism, Indonesian culture is derived from the primacy of the family, with emphasis placed the importance of cooperation and group relationships.
Indonesia's government, reflecting these ancient familial traditions, emphasizes the use of deliberation and discussion to arrive at decisions by consensus in contrast to Western traditions that use adversarial proceedings to reach a decision.
Nevertheless, the political stability that Indonesia enjoyed during President Soeharto's reign was not without a price. The financial and economic crisis that hit Indonesia (other Asian countries also faced similar difficulties) in 1997 and 1998 led to the downfall of the Soeharto Government. The interim government, led by President B.J. Habibie, was faced with the daunting task of putting the house in order, amidst the loss of confidence experienced among the Indonesians towards the government and the sporadic incidents in many parts of the republic. To obtain support and legitimacy from the general public, the interim government proposed the holding of a general election which was scheduled on June 7, 1999.
Forty-eight political parties competed for 462 seats in the House of Representatives, with 38 seats reserved for the military. The election was hailed as the first democratic poll since 1965, and the results would prove to have a long-term effect on domestic political stability. The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) won the majority of votes in the House (DPR) with 35 percent of seats, followed by Golkar, the United Development Party (PPP), the National Awakening Party (PKB), the Crescent and Stars Party (PBB) and the National Mandate Party (PAN).
Despite its position as a simple majority party, PDI Perjuangan lost the political battle to install Chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri as president. In a tight race against a strategic coalition of Golkar and the Axis Force, a coalition of various Islamic parties, PDI Perjuangan also lost the strategic posts of speakers of the House and People's Consultative Assembly. After losing out on the presidency, Megawati was elected as vice president, while KH. Abdurrahman Wahid was elected as president.
During a special session in parliament on July 2001, President Abdurrahman Wahid was dismissed for alleged incompetence. Megawati automatically became Indonesia's president. President Megawati's period in office was up to 2004. During the first-ever direct presidential election in September 2004, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono won the race, replacing the incumbent Megawati Soekarnoputri. The election was hailed as the first peaceful transition of power in Indonesia's history.
Basis for Indonesian Democracy
In practice, Pancasila and the 1945 Constitution provides the basis for Indonesian democracy.
The five principles of Pancasila provide the moral and philosophical underpinning, the 1945 Constitution establishes institutions of government: People's Consultative Assembly, Presidency and the House of Representatives.
Pancasila: Five Principles that Define the Indonesian Nation.
Fundamental to Indonesia and its political institutions are the five moral principles outlined in Pancasila, a Sanskrit phrase meaning "Five Principles."
Those principles, listed in the preamble to Indonesia's Constitution, are:
Belief in the one and only God
Just and civilized humanity
The unity of Indonesia
Democracy led by the wisdom of deliberations among represetives
Social justice for all of the people of Indonesia
By accepting Pancasila, the various groups in Indonesia acknowledge being part of a unified society.
Indonesia plays an important role in global affairs, while also embracing its responsibility to its millions of citizens whose primary right is an opportunity to continue improving their quality of life and that of future generations. Indonesia's principal trading partners include Japan, the United States, members of the European Union and other nations of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN). ASEAN has been extremely successful in its efforts to promote economic, social, cultural and scientific relations between its members.
Indeed, ASEAN is the cornerstone of Indonesian foreign policy. In early 2000, Indonesia re-established its cardinal position in ASEAN by successfully charting the future direction of the group through the ASEAN Community conception, which consists of three pillars: ASEAN Security Community, ASEAN Economic Community and ASEAN Socio-cultural Community. The ASEAN Security Community pillar, proposed by Indonesia, provides the region with the assurance that its members will always opt for peaceful means in settling their differences.
Indonesia is also fully committed to its obligations to the World Trade Organization, with the goal of encouraging an inclusive and fair multilateral trading system, and transparent laws and regulations governing national economies. Indonesia's commitment to a global economy is also reflected in its leadership in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Conference (APEC), a group of Pacific Rim countries. As host of the second Leader's meeting (1994), Indonesia was able to promote agreement on the Bogor Declaration, which aims to establish free and inclusive trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific region by the beginning of the 21st Century.
Politically, Indonesia has adopted an increasingly important international role. It co-chaired the Cambodian peace process, and as Chair of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) has chartered a course for that organization, which aims to move from the traditionally confrontational North/South divisiveness to mutually beneficial cooperation. Indonesia supports the Middle East Peace Process and has played a vital role in United Nations peacekeeping operations, including those following the Arab-Israeli War, the Vietnam War, and in Bosnia and Somalia. Indonesia has also taken the lead in maintaining regional stability, including participation in the ASEAN Regional Forum, which focuses on security; brokering a peace agreement between the Philippines' Government and the Moro National Liberation Front, ending decades of conflict there; and in contributing to the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization (KEDO), as part of the efforts to support nuclear non-proliferation.
On the latter case, by having a close relationship with North Korea and South Korea, Indonesia has been able to make a positive contribution toward the peace process in the Korean Peninsula.
Indonesia is also committed to the empowerment of developing countries, at times referred to as the South. In early 2000, Indonesia considered it timely that Asian and African countries revitalize a closer cooperation between the two continents. The Asian-African Conference (AAC) in Bandung, Indonesia 1955, was the precursor of the stream of political liberation and independence of the many Asian and African countries, as well as Latin American countries.
After more than 50 years, the Asian and African countries have realized their need to build and expand on what their founding fathers had planted in Bandung. In this regard, Indonesia and South Africa have been working closely as the co-chairs of the Asia-African Sub-Regional Organizations Conference (AASROC) process and in the Asian-African Summit 2005 in Jakarta, Indonesia. The outcomes of the Summit, New Asian-African Strategic Partnership (NAASP) provide the continents with a framework to materialize a fruitful & closer cooperation.
A closer cooperation between the two continents is necessary in the context of international structure where the majority of countries in Asia and Africa remain a mediocre international player. Within the structure, they remain an object rather than a subject. They are the lost voice in the jungle of power politics, where only 'those with power' have the capacity to define international issues and set international agendas. Hence, a concerted voice of Asian and African countries on many international issues would serve as an alternative voice, or perhaps a moral voice, that the major powers in the world and should take into consideration.
|
|
|
Home |
Contact Us |
Bahasa Indonesia |
|
|
POLITICS |
|
|
|
POLITICS |