RSSA council that includes leaders of religion-based youth organizations has sent postcards to legislative candidates ahead of the April general election, asking them to commit to working for the nation´s integrity.
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| Albert Siagian (right), general secretary of Christian Youth Force Movement, on Dec. 16 in Jakarta, sends in his postcard to legislative candidates ahead of the April general election, asking them to commit to working for the nation´s integrity. |
On Dec. 16, members of the National Integrity Council (DIB, Indonesian acronym) mailed these special Komitmen Integritas (integrity commitment) postcards to about 11,000 national legislature candidates at Jakarta´s Central Post Office. A national election is scheduled for April 9, 2009.
The postcards ask candidates to declare their commitment on three issues. The first is that they “really understand that the task and function of Indonesia´s House of Representatives is to fight for people´s aspirations in eliminating all forms of corruption, collusion and nepotism.”
Second, they are asked to pledge that if they become legislators for the 2009-2014 term, they will strive to enact a law requiring state officials, legislators included, to declare their assets. This is to help ensure that they are not involved in corruption.
Third, candidates are also asked to agree to “bear all the consequences” should they “fail to carry out this integrity commitment.”
The candidates are invited to sign the postcards and return them to the DIB.
The council, set up on Aug. 6, 2008, comprises two groups — Team-8 and Team-45. Team-8 is made up of leaders of seven religion-based national youth organizations and one Chinese association. These are the Nahdlatul Ulama (awakening of Islamic scholars) Students Association, Muhammadiyah Youth, Indonesian Christian Youth Force Movement, Catholic Youth, Indonesian Buddhist Young Generation, Indonesian Hindu Youth Association, Confucian Young Generation and Anti-Corruption Chinese Community. Team-45 comprises 45 religious, academic, professional, business and civil society figures.
According to its founding declaration, DIB is a “common vehicle to push for cultural change, from a culture that hungers for power, position and money to a culture that espouses integrity.”
Tens of DIB members gathered in a room of the post office for the Dec. 16 launch of the postcard project.
Presidential hopefuls Yuddy Chrisnandi and Marwah Daud Ibrahim, both hoping for the nomination to represent the Golongan Karya (functional group) party, also attended and were among those who handed over postcards to a post office staff member for stamping and mailing.
In a short speech to participants, Chrisnandi said he regards the campaign as a step toward the creation of a “civilized nation free from corruption.”
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| Fransiscus Xaverius Bambang Ismawan speaks about integrity to the National Integrity Council on Dec. 16 in Jakarta. The council includes leaders of religion-based youth organizations and want legislative candidates ahead of the April general election to commit to working for the nation´s integrity. |
Ibrahim shared that she believed all Indonesians will prosper when “people who participate in national development are really those with integrity.”
Franciscus Xaverius Bambang Ismawan, the only Catholic member of Team-45, told UCA News: “DIB members are committed to fighting against injustice and hope that the legislative candidates will sign the integrity commitment cards and return them to DIB´s secretariat before February 2009.”
The initiative aims to tackle the severe problems of “corruption and injustice” facing the country, he added.
Kiai Hajj Salahuddin Wahid, head of Team-45 and a leader of Nahdlatul Ulama, the biggest Islamic organization in the country, told UCA News he hopes all candidates will sign the cards and that those who are elected will keep their commitment. “They are not only making their promise to us but to all the people,” he said, adding that DIB will publish the names of those who sign the cards in the media.
Apart from Chrisnandi and Ibrahim, four other presidential hopefuls are expected to attend DIB campaign events scheduled to be held in 12 cities from January to March.
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