This year is unlike previous ones when Catholic prelates paid no attention to political issues. This time Bishop's Conference of Indonesia (KWI) has given guidelines to the country's entire Catholic community for how and why to choose presidential candidates.
In a pastoral letter issued regarding the forthcoming presidential elections (July 5), KWI called on Catholics to choose candidates with clear programs for the nation.
Particularly, said KWI chairman Cardinal Julius Darmaatmadja, SJ, voters should choose presidential candidates having strong commitments to fighting poverty and creating jobs.
"We have to choose leaders who commit themselves to reducing the number of poor people, curbing public deception through good education and reducing the number of jobless people by creating employment opportunities," the cardinal told journalists last week while issuing an in appeal in his pastoral letter, "Your Choice is Very Decisive".
Catholics who account for around 7 million of the population, have also been told by the KWI to vote for candidates determined to fight environmental destruction with courage to battle corruption and punish proponents of such dishonest.
The KWI also said the upcoming presidential election should ensure democratization and not a return to state of tyrannyreferring a potential 'come back' by ex-president Soeharto's authoritarian political machine (i.e. the Golkar Party which gained a majority of seats in parliament in the Apr. 5 general elections).
"We need leaders who can free people from the culture of state-sponsored violence (brought on) by pitting one group against others of different backgrounds and stigmatizing, marginalizing and victimizing members of particular groups," added Cardinal Darmaatmadja, Jakarta's archbishop.
"We need leaders who have the courage to uphold justice without sacrificing the truth, leaders who dare to enforce laws over and above political calculation for the sake of justice for all," added Msgr. Ignatius Suharyo, Archbishop of the Semarang Diocese in Central Java and KWI General Secretary. People should learn to be wise in making decisions, he said.
"It is very important that people make choices with their heart," both Cardinal Darmaatmadja and Archbishop Suharyo told journalists at a special press conference held at the KWI offices in Central Jakarta.
Pairs of presidential and vice presidential candidates are now on the ballot lists. They are former Indonesian Military (TNI) Chief Gen. (ret) Wiranto with Vice Chairman of the Indonesian Human Rights Commission, Solahudin Wahid (from Golkar Party); former Minister for Security and Political Affairs Gen. (ret) Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Jusuf Kalla (of the Democrat Party); People's Consultative Assembly Speaker, Amien Rais and successful business executive, Siswono Yudhohusodo (National Mandate Party/PAN); current President Megawati Soekarnoputri and Nahdlatul Ulama (the country's largest Muslim organization) chairman, Hasyim Muzadi (of the Indonesian Democratic Party Struggle/PDI-P); ex-President Abdurrahman Wahid made a sudden change: he dropped Sophan Sophiaan of the PDI-P, bringing a Golkar female politician Marwah Daud Ibrahim as his running mate for vice presidential election (Muslim moderate National Awakening Party/PKB); Vice President Hamzah Haz, who is also chairman of Muslims based United Development Party (PPP) has named himself as presidential candidate from PPP. His running mate for VP candidate is the incumbent minister of transportation and communication Lieut. Gen. Agum Gumelar.
Golkar a threat to win
In a message sent to AsiaNews by the Bishop of Purwokerto in Central Java, Msgr. Julius Sunarko, the prelate expressed great concern about the Golkar Party winning the presidential elections. Yet it is quite reasonable that Golkar will prove victorious, since grassroots political platforms, which had greater success under the Soeharto regime (when Golkar dominated seats in parliament) are now back in political fashion.
According to Bishop Sunarko, most Indonesians are now more concerned with individual and community prosperity as well as economic growth rather than international issues such as democratization and civil governance.
"So it is quite understandable why Golkar could win the elections, as political reform has done nothing (for the country) during the last six years since the fall of President Soeharto in May 1988," said. Msgr. Soenarko.
The old Golkar party, which ruled from 1970-1988, is surely much different from the new party that has evolved since Soeharto's resignation. The is seen in case of TNI military officers, who have learned much about human rights issues and democratization since thenissues that were not familiar to them during Soeharto regime.
"I feel quite realistic in saying that, when fostering the civil governance, Golkar should work together with the nationalistic PDIP (party), the Democratic Party and moderate Muslim Awakening Nation Party (PKB)," added Msgr Sunarko.
The winning of Golkar the legislative elections should not be biased with issues that this former Soeharto's political machine will dominate the country's politics. Golkar's majority seats in Parliament might not be so decisive as some think, since Megawati's PDIP party should still hold much influence. The same should hold true for Muslim moderate leader and former President Abdurrahmand Wahid's party (PKB) together with the newly established nationalist Democrat Party.
"Majority seats gained by Golkar is not a guarantee that democracy is in danger," said Sigit Pramudji, a diocesan priest and KWI executive director.(MH)
