Ahmad Fikri, Bandung – A former senior economics lecturer from the University of Indonesia, Professor Sarbini, has warned that the forces of the New Order regime [of former President Suharto] are trying as hard as possible to buy votes in the 2004 general elections. The available funds to buy these votes are estimated at 5 trillion rupiah. “And certainly the result will be that the New Order will reemerge as the political rulers”, said Sarbini in Bandung on Monday March 22.

He said that from a rough calculation, if one vote is bought with 50,000 rupiah, five trillion rupiah will therefore be needed to obtain 100 million votes in the elections. “Using an estimation which is extremely simple and very rough, looking at past experience, past attitudes and the present experience (the running of the campaign – Ed.), they will try as hard as possible to buy votes”, said Sarbini.

Included in the New Order regime, Sarbini pointed to the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, the Golkar Party, the United Development Party and former military officers who have resurfaced [as party leaders or candidates]. “That is the New Order”, he said.

He warned that this issue should not be ignored because the New Order forces were authoritarian in character, depended on cronyism and controlled of all aspects of economic, political and social life throughout Indonesian society.

Sarbini’s concern is that these political fund which will be used to win the 2004 elections are linked with the entry of 40 trillion rupiah in the last two weeks of January and the month of February which were quoted in a Bank Indonesia financial report. These moneys entered Indonesia though the purchases of shares and obligations as well as deposits. “Money in this form is extremely easy to disperse”, he said.

He suspects that this money did not com from foreign investors because foreign investors still do not have confidence in the Indonesian economy in the lead up to the 2004 elections. “This is definitely money [belonging to] Indonesian people”, he said.

Sarbini is concerned that these funds are planned to ensure a victory for supporters of the New Order regime to win the 2004 elections. “It is very clear to see in the present atmosphere that the New Order forces are open and blatant in their self-confidence”, he said. (zal)

[Translated by James Balowski.]