December 4, 1998 Letters to the Editor The Washington Post 1150 15th St, NW Washington, D.C. 20071 A report by Associated Press writer, Haris Syamaun, entitled "Indonesia Plans Elections on June 7" (quoted by today’s Washington Post , entitled "Indonesia Schedules Parliamentary Elections") contains a serious error about the issue. The writer reported that the next Indonesian general election, which elects members of the People’s Consultative Assembly, will be held on June 7, 1999. The new members of the People’s Consultative Assembly will convene on August 29, 1999, among others to elect the President. In his report, however, the writer then said "… the 1,000-member assembly is packed with holdovers from the Suharto era, including military appointees, and critics say it does not have the credibility to choose a new leader for the nation of 202 million people." It is obvious that the writer is confused about this matter in comparing apples with oranges. On one hand, he reported that the June election would elect new members of the Assembly. On the other hand, he referred to the credibility of the present 1,000 members. Indonesia is undertaking major political, economic and legal reforms which, if successful, would transform her from an authoritarian rule government to the third largest democracy in the world. History teaches us that a transition from a restricted and closed society to an open and democratic one, especially by a nation as populous and diversified as Indonesia, is always fragile and critical to the unity of the country. The government and the people of Indonesia understand this challenge very clearly. It is for this purpose that the Government has abolished restrictions on the establishment of political parties (which has now grown to close to 100), while providing the freest press in the region and involves international experts in its preparation for the election. In this context, the last thing Indonesia needs is a grave and careless error by a major international press organization about a matter, which will determine the country’s existence. Yours sincerely, Mahendra Siregar First Secretary Press and Information Division Indonesian Embassy Tel: (202) 775-5266 (Office) (301) 495-3024 (Home) ------ Paragraf keempat : Indonesia is undertaking major political, economic and legal reforms which, if successful, would transform her from an authoritarian rule government to the third largest democracy in the world. Jadi Mahendra Siregar mengakui kalau Indonesia saat ini adalah : authoritarian rule government dan kalau tidak berhasil jadi tetap authoritarian rule government baca juga perkataan Syarwan Hamid di koran-koran tentang pemilu 1999 dan pemilu sebelumnya. Mengingat Pemilu 1999 merupakan satu-satunya mekanisme menuju terciptanya pemerintah yang tidak hanya konstitusional tetapi juga legitimate, maka perhelatan demokrasi yang satu ini harus benar-benar berlangsung "luber", jujur dan adil (jurdil), terhindar dari rekayasa dan manipulasi seperti diakui sendiri oleh Mendagri Syarwan Hamid yang mengatakan, cara-cara manipulasi Pemilu di masa lalu jangan sampai terulang lagi. Loh.... padahal dulu pemerintah selalu bilang pemilu itu luber dan jurdil. kalau Pemilu yang lalu sudah diakui sendiri oleh Syarwan Hamid (dalam kapasitasnya sebagai Menteri Dalam Negeri) dimanipulasi, berarti MPR/DPR hasil Pemilu lalu juga tidak murni aspirasi rakyat dong alias tidak legitim. dan MPR/DPR ini yang akan mensahkan RUU Pemilu yang akan datang. dan kalau Pemilu yang akan datang tidak successful(meniru istilah Mahendra Siregar), Indonesia tetap : authoritarian rule government Saya berdoa untuk pejabat-pejabat Indonesia agar mata hatinya terbuka mendengar tangis rakyat. Johnson Chandra
