By:
Gigih Shofa
Uzaman (20090510058)
Final
Examination
International
Relations of Muhammadiyah University of Yogyakarta
Abstract
The Republic of Indonesia is
a state which based on so called “Pancasila Democratic System” or it is equal
as Liberal Democratic System which the US has. This condition makes Indonesia
to have the multiparty system which is quite similar to the US. Furthermore
when we look the diversity within the country, there are hundreds of different
ethnics in race, religion and tribes that have many different ideologies and
thoughts, make this country even more diverse than any other country in Asia.
Simply
we can say that Indonesia “copy” it from the US and then “paste” it within the
country as a system, without further consideration, and this is what is going
to create problems. American society is not the same with Indonesian society.
American society is not religious oriented or even does not consider religion
as anything, meanwhile Indonesian society which is mainly God oriented would
consider a lot of religious affairs. Liberal Democratic System would fit in one
country which has liberal society and it also would make serious complication
in religious society which is God oriented and everything belongs to God,
including law, power and freedom.
In
general perspective, there are many facts that show the inefficiency of this
system and changes must be done.
Therefore, Indonesian incumbent government must take start to find a
better system which can serve all the need of Indonesia which is varies and
complex. A fast and looking sharp actions must be drafted as soon as possible
to cover all the needs of Indonesia. [1]
The Debilities of Multiparty System in Indonesia
Every party system basically
has its own lacks and overplus, so does multiparty system, although it is being
applied in many democratic countries such as US, Indonesia, India, Malaysia and
so forth. People believe that this is the most eligible ways for the people to
get their rights because the more parties exist the more chance for the voice
of people to be heard by the state.
This mindset might work well
in the more educated with democracy and homogenous countries such as Israel and
the US, but when it comes to a country such as Indonesia and Malaysia, it seems
not to be working very well due to many factors such as education, belief,
diversity, cultures and political interest.
In general there are seven
lacks of multiparty system which exist in Indonesia and how they affect the
life of the Indonesian society in general, they are:
Huge Budget Allocation
Huge
budget which is allocated by the government to support the living of those parties
is really a troublesome for many countries. A good government must help the
living of the parties in order to uphold democracy in line with multiparty system.
Although the parties are not fully dependent on the government; they can find
other sources to help them; but it is still a burden for the government. In
this case, government of a state must allocate trillions of rupiah for many
parties.
This
is really a big deal for Indonesia, although it is all for the sake of justice
and freedom of choice which is the essentials of democratic state, it is still
a questionable burden in Indonesian politics. Many question remain, is the
parties’ contribution equal to what the budget allocation given by government.
A
huge amount of money is given to every single party, it is estimated Rp.
5.000.000.000,- for each party for the campaign and also some billions for each
personal candidates. If it is only one or two or three parties only, it would
not matter. But there are around 40 parties in average in every five years
election. The calculation would be at least Rp. 5.000.000.000,- x 40 = Rp.
20.000.000.000,-. Indonesian government gives Rp. 20.000.000.000 only for the
parties to campaign and this number is not added with the “allowance” for the
single candidates and other materials. [2]
Ineffectiveness in the Usage of Budget Allocation
The
money which is given by government to a party is supposed to be used in
campaign. But what short of campaign should be done? The campaign is to give
persuasive speeches, making pamphlet, or any kinds of action to persuade people
to choose the party. But there are several kinds of campaign which is banned,
it is to give money directly to people with certain amount and then require the
people to choose their party. This kind of campaign would absorb more money
than any other ways. It is also called “black campaign” which is banned
by government.
The
use of money in this term has become a “tradition” in Indonesian society,
people only consider short term interest instead of long term ones. This also
causes in bad impacts on people, when a wealthy person who is not qualified
enough become a representative because of money; he will not fight for the good
of people. He is certainly going to find ways to get his money back.
Here
is a picture of estimation on how a single party can spend its budget mainly in
giving bribery to people. In a region
which has 50.000 people who are eligible to elect; a single party will give Rp.
50.000,- for each one. Thus the party spends (Rp. 50.000,- x 50.000 =
2.500.000.000,-) for the region to make sure that the party will win the
election in that region. This shows that this so called “culture” would create
ineffectiveness in the multiparty system, as we know that the parties are going
to compete. In this case, a party will encourage another party to do the same
in order to win the election. Therefore, inefficiency cannot be denied and
remains as the burden of multiparty system.
Decision Making Would be so Difficult
As we
see as a nature of multiparty system there are many thoughts and ideas about a
matter and how to deal with it. One party might think it should go this way and
another would say something different. In this case, if there are only one or
two parties, the decision making would not take that long time and difficult.
But if we see in Indonesia, there are over 40 parties and it seems so
impossible to pass a regulation which is agreed by all of them or even only a
majority.
The multi party system will always create a situation
where parties will struggle for control and in the end get important nothing
done, this is just a fact with the way the system works, think of it as having
a car which can drive in either automatic or manual transmission, one has to be
in charge or the car isn't going to speed up.[3]
Disputes among Parties Create Political Instability
Multiparty
system is also creating the instability of politics in many ways. In this
system, if the parties are not against each other in decision making, there
would not be a problem. But when the parties are against each other in decision
making it will create instability in the politics.
If a
party has the power in certain places in the representatives, the party will
reshuffle the political players in that house. When this happens, there will be
many new decisions being passed and of course it will confuse many people in
Indonesia.
Instability
in politics will cause instability in economy. If the politics of Indonesia
does not run well and there are always many people being changed, investors
would not be interested in investing their assets in Indonesia. The nature of
investor is to invest in a stable country which can maintain a stable marker
for the investors. Even for non-investment business such as small farming and
micro economy which is run by small family would be affected. Instability of
the multiparty politics will affect all economic activity in the country and it
is going to ruin the cash flows of a country. [4]
Instability
in political activity will also cause instability in security. When the
politics is not running well, many people think that the government is
incapable to stabilize the political condition. That way people will turn into
chaos demanding the better political conditions. Furthermore, when the economic
and political conditions are in chaos, riots and terrorisms will occur to haunt
the country. [5]
The
instability of security is also caused by the disputes among the parties. The
disputes will encourage the grass rooters to stand against each other who are not
in the same parties like what it happened in 1999. There were many terrors and
chaos everywhere in Indonesia and causes billions of lost and kicked many
domestic and foreign investors out of business.
Political Interests Overwhelms Common Interests
Multiparty system which is
supposed to give more chances for Indonesian citizens to participate is often
becoming so ineffective. The more parties we have, the more chances for people
voices to be heard. But it seems to be only a mirage for Indonesia. The more
parties the more competitions to fulfill their own interests through those
parties.
One of the most severe risks
of multiparty system is the competition to gain more self interests. One party
will not stand still when they see another party taking interest for
themselves. This has become the nature of a party.
This seems to be the main
problem in Indonesia today; many regulations were passed in order to fulfill
self interest of the representatives and the parties. A party might not pass a
regulation if the regulation is not giving benefit for the party although it
will do good for the people of Indonesia. A party might pass the regulation
which brings good for the party although it does not give any good for the
people. This is very severe and wide spread in the society of Indonesia.
Unprofessional Players
In multiparty system, people from many different
backgrounds have big chances to participate in politics. When there are more
parties, people would have more chance to be candidates; in that case, there
are more chance for people to be in certain parties or even make a party. There
are around 40 parties in each legislative election and several new parties are
to be born to satisfy some Indonesians passion to gain power.
People
who are joining the parties are not just ordinary people; of course they must
have added value. This added value is no more than just green bucks or
money to support their campaign and to pay their volunteers. There is no limit
whatever your education or achievement, as long as you have adequate money, you
may join the politics. Even, if you are not graduated from high school or
college.
In
this case, many people who are not qualified to be the representatives are
being elected due to their massive amount of money. When this happens, the
disaster is just about to overwhelm Indonesian sky and traps each person in a
shadow of dirty politics. These unqualified people are not able to deal with
the problems which are coming in the society, what they do is only to sign the
proposals, receive tribute cash and taking a nap in the house of
representatives.
Corruptions
are just so common for these people, because what they want is to get their
money back after campaign. Representative is just a business for them; people’s
voice and scream are not being listened. Many laws and regulations are passed
in order to satisfy themselves and many of them do not understand how the
impacts can affect the society and make the people suffering.
Complex System for the Voters
Despite
of many complicated bad impacts of multiparty system, this system also offers a
very complex bureaucracy to vote. People are about to choose over 40 parties in
each election period and for the most people, they do not have any idea about
the parties in the list. This case also causes many problems when it seems that
there is no a single party to be responsibility to each decision which was
made.
This
condition makes people reluctant to vote and ruin their trust to the multiparty
system. At the very worst case people would not vote due to the mistrust to the
multiparty system. This philosophy was
proven by the election in Central Java in 2009 that the majority of the people
did not vote and ruined the spirit of multiparty system.
Conclusion
Each country are different
in many ways; cultures, political views, belief, diversity or even political
interest. A system which is good for one country might not be good to another
country. Even the system of Democracy might be imposed in some countries but it
does not match to many countries due to many factors.
Indonesia is a country which
is using democratic system so called “Demokrasi Pancasila” which is equal to
liberal democratic. This system is believed by many Indonesia to be the most
perfect system although it still has more bad impacts than other system such as
religious system due to the diversity of Indonesia.
There are seven common
points which can describe how the multiparty system in Indonesia cannot uphold
all people wishes and even give many bad impacts. These impacts are so severe
that should be considered a big deal for the society of Indonesia.
Bibliography
Kiyosaki, Robert T. (2001). “Cash Flow Quadrant”. Prentice Hal:
New Jersey
Roskin, Michael G. (1999). “Political Science:An Introduction”
Prentice Hal: New Jersey
www.qna.redliff.com
1 comments:
Dear writer: In our Nation's interest we urge you to stop expressing the Indonesian indoctrinated thruth and start to express below facts to all academics and other people interested.
Please consider the break-away of West Papua/ Melanesia from Indonesia through Self determination as simple mathematics by executing the following formula:
1. The original 1945 Proklamasi Sukarno-Hatta was from "A till A" (Atjeh till Ambon), did NOT include West Papua. Because on that same day in 1945, according to the 1944 Atlantic Charter, West Papua tribal leaders led by Marcus Wonggor Kaisiëpo, issued a statement in Kota Nica to RADEN Colonel AbdulKadir Widojojoatmodjo of the NICA (Netherlands-Indies Civil Administration) which was governing West Papua. The message was simple: "West Papua Melanesia would determine its own future and therefore will never be a part of the new Indonesian republic".
As from that moment any historical claim of Indonesia on West Papua is not funded as this 1945 statement widely expressed the Will of the West Papua people.
On this basis the 1947 Canberra Agreement between Pacific States and western states (U.S., Netherlands, France, Ireland Australia, N-Zealand) was signed, recognizing West Papua as a Nation and recognizing it's Melanesian territorial borders and establishing the South Pacific Commission. As from that moment West Papua leaders attended the plenary sessions of the SPC.
So Indonesia is living in denyal by considering West Papua as an internal question and within it's own territorial integrity, as from 1963 Indonesia is ILLEGALLY OCCUPYING the since 1945 undisputed territorial Melanesian borders of West Papua Melanesia.
Underlining this illegal basis, Indonesia prooved its democratic INCAPACITY by renaming West Papua several times, divide and conquer- politics, and keeping the world opinion happy by demonstrating democracy by issueing autonomy legislation in 2000, which still has to be implemented. And on top of this, issueing new legislation in 2006, dividing provinces, undermining its own 2001 autonomy law.
Indonesia's failing attempts for democracy is illustrated with the banning of showing the West Papua Morningstar flag in public, which's freely expression was adopted in 2001 by the parlement under president Wahid.
2. The revenues of West Papua's natural resources and wealth (gold, copper nickel, oil& gas, wood) are feeding the economy of the failed democratic state Indonesia. West Papua is Indonesia's guarantee for economic survival and to avoid bankruptcy of the failed democratic Indonesian state.
See link: www.fcx.com/operations/grascomplx.htm
3. According to the Pax Americana doctrine, the Kennedy Administration handed over West Papua in 1962 to Indonesia. Whenever USA's interest & profits (Laskar Jihad-muslim thread to Christianic Papuans,natural resources revenues) is endangered, the USA will strike Indonesia for its benefit ( see cases of Kuwait, Afghanistan, Iraq).
So in despite of the brutal and corrupt Indonesian Generals regime and its atrocities, the US will take back West Papua by re-implementing the 1962 New York Agreement to its merites, using the United Nations Special Committee on Decolonization (C-24), inorder to maintain the Pax Americana Worldpeace.
See link: www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB128/index.htm
See link: www.house.gov/list/press/as00_faleomavaega/enionwestpapua.html
See link: www.house.gov/list/press/as00_faleomavaega/enipayneltrtosusilo.html
It is a Long Way to Go Never Give Up / Persevero !
Insjah Allah / Na Kores Ra Refo
Setia Djudjur Mesra / Trouw, Eerlijk, Innig Verbonden
Kind regards,
Kobe Oser/ Unity
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Kobe Oser office
P.O.Box 10377
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