REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, DENPASAR -- A coalition of civil societies expressed rejection to the 7th Bali Democracy Forum (BDF) saying that it was no longer relevant for the development of democracy following the recent ratification of the regional elections law.
"People will no longer be totally involved in the implementation of democracy. The people's role will be hijacked similar to what happened in the elections of regional heads," Komang Arya Ganaris, the coordinator of the coalition in Bali, stated here on Thursday.
He noted that the forum, which has so far been held to promote Indonesia as a role model of democracy in Asia, is observed to be merely used as a sweetener and as an image-building measure for the current government at the national and international level.
"This forum is no longer appropriate as it is found to have only been used to build a political image with a huge annual cost," he remarked.
He emphasized that democracy is important to give people freedom, including justice and responsibility, for their sovereignty and welfare.
He pointed out that the role and participation of the people has now been diminished following the enactment of Law Number 22 of 2014 that applies an indirect system of elections of provincial governors, district heads, and city mayors by legislative assemblies instead of direct elections by the people, which have been implemented so far.
Sharing Arya's viewpoint, Chairman of the Association of Independent Journalists (AJI) of Bali chapter Rofiqi Hasan stated that the next government of Joko Widodo and Jusuf Kalla must no longer hold the BDF, which he considered to be a mere routine event that will not facilitate to create the foundations of democracy and implement the right to democracy for the people's welfare.
"The next government must not implement image building measures adopted by the previous government. Moreover, this forum is a mere political image-building event with a huge annual cost," he affirmed.
The coalition of civil societies that joined the call were Manikaya Kauci Foundation, the Indonesia Legal Aid Institute Fondation (YLBHI-LBH) of Bali chapter, Bintang Gana Foundation, the Pena'98, Sloka Institute, ALASE, the Indonesia Environment Forum (Walhi) of Bali chapter, and AJI Denpasar.
One of the themes of the 7th BDF, scheduled to be inaugurated by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Friday, is public participation, which is contrary to the fact, following the ratification of the "Pilkada" law.
President Yudhoyono has received widespread flak following the recent passage of the Pilkada bill by the House of Representatives, and in view of that, he then produced a regulation in lieu of the law, locally known as Perppu.
However, the Perppu will only be effective if it is approved by the House of Representatives, which is now controlled by the political parties grouped in the Red-White coalition that supported the passage of the bill.
The annual BDF, which was initiated by President Yudhoyono and first launched in 2008, has been part of the calendar of activities on discourses on democracy in the Asia and Pacific involving inter-governmental representatives from the region. The event aims to increase regional and international cooperation in the advancement of inclusive democracy.
Among the heads of states to attend the 7th BDF are President Benigno Aquino III of the Philippines, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei Darussalam, and Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao of Timor Leste.
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