Page 169 - Demo

152Islam, Democracy and Human Rights in Contemporary IndonesiaNo. 7 of 2017 on General Elections, some of whose articles areconsidered to be in contradiction with the 1945 Constitution ofthe Republic of Indonesia.What I will convey today concerns an issue that, in my view,touches the interests of all of us as a nation that has chosen thepath of democracy since the Reform Era. That issue is abouthow we manage the implementation of elections in accordancewith the mandate of reform and the 1945 Constitution of theRepublic of Indonesia, in electing members of the DPR (Houseof Representatives), Provincial DPRD, and Regency/MunicipalDPRD.A quarter of a century ago (May 21, 1998), we left behind along era of authoritarianism that had lasted more than threedecades, and we chose a new path%u2014one of democracy andhuman rights. That decision was made consciously andindependently as a sovereign nation, without being dictated toby any other country or any other party.Throughout this long journey, with all its dynamics, we haveheld four general elections using the open proportional system.It is appropriate now that we pause for a moment of reflection%u2014whether our economic, social, and political life today has indeedbecome what we had dreamed of in the past when we chosethe path of democracy.Should we continue to hold elections using the openproportional system, which has resulted in political competitionamong people%u2019s representatives at the national, provincial, andregional levels being dictated by Darwin%u2019s Law%u2014survival of thefittest%u2014where only the strong or the wealthy are elected, whilethe weak or the poor are left behind and ultimately perish?Your Excellencies, the Chief Justice and Members of the