Indonesia's president urges strong voter turnout
But some students believe no vote sends stronger message
May 28, 1997
Web posted at: 1:51 p.m. EDT (1751 GMT)JAKARTA, Indonesia (CNN) -- Faced with the possibility of a boycott, President Suharto urged a strong voter turnout on the eve of elections for Indonesia's parliament.
In a televised speech, Suharto defended Indonesia's strictly controlled political system as essential to rapid economic development, continuing stability and good relations with the outside world.
"That is why I am calling on all of us to use our voting rights with full responsibility," he said.
The ruling party, Golkar, is widely expected to retain control of parliament, as it has in every election since 1971. The parliament and 500 government appointees together vote for the country's president; Suharto is expected to be reappointed for a seventh five-year term.
Meanwhile, the Indonesian government said more than 25,000 soldiers and police will stand guard at polling locations during parliamentary elections Thursday. Wednesday is the last day of the official 27-day campaign period, during which 300 people have been killed in campaign-related violence.
With the elections to some extent appearing already decided, some in Indonesia have come to the conclusion that they cannot change the country by casting their votes.
"Election is just a tool for legitimization of the government. Our assessment is that this election is just a ritual," said Rizal, the head of the student senate at Gajah Mada University, one of Indonesia's oldest and most prestigious universities.
Many students agree with him: A recent survey found that 80 percent of the students in Indonesia believe change is not possible in the upcoming elections.
Nonetheless, students at Gajah Mada are trying to use the elections to educate their countrymen in constitutional rights.
"We will follow the constitution and do our best to make people aware," Rizal said. "If we're successful, then people will know they have a choice, that they can influence state policy, rather than just following a system to legitimize power."
Yogyakarta, where Gajah Mada is located, is home to many Indonesian universities and colleges and has developed a reputation for having a progressive and educated community. Many say people in this city are less afraid to speak their minds.
But this group is learning to push for change carefully. For example, Rizal and his friends did not say they were encouraging a boycott -- to do so is illegal.
One dissident who called last year for an election boycott has been charged with subversion, a crime punishable by death. And 32 students campaigning for a boycott were detained and questioned by the military.
One of those students, Sri Wahyuning, spent two days in jail but still supports a boycott. He explained that voters can either cast a yellow card, indicating they are boycotting the vote, or turn in a white vote, invalidating their ballot.
"A white vote shows they don't trust the elections, but there's no real action, no implications," Wahyuning said. In the survey, 36 percent of students said they would cast a yellow ballot, boycotting the vote.
However, if trends from the last election hold, fewer than 5 percent of the more than 125 million eligible Indonesian voters will boycott. A limited boycott won't change Indonesia's balance of power, but could be regarded as a slight to the 31-year-old Suharto government.
Jakarta bureau chief Maria Ressa contributed to this report.
Related stories:
- Riots mar conclusion of Indonesian campaign - May 23, 1997
- Indonesian troops deployed to quell pre-election violence - May 21, 1997
- Signs of unrest precede run-up to Indonesian election - April 26, 1997
- Indonesia tightens security ahead of elections - April 25, 1997
- Indonesia tightens pressure on opposition leader - September 24, 1996
- Toothache delays Indonesian political challenge - August 1, 1996
Related sites:
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- Elections in Indonesia
- The CIA World Factbook page on Indonesia
- Dept. of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Indonesia
- Indocenter - starting point for information about Indonesia.
- Local government of DKI Jakarta
- Access Indonesia Online
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