T

he early months of the year were marked by two important events that involved the fate of hundreds if not millions of people in the city.

In late March, Jakartans were shocked by a disaster that befell residents of the area next to the spillway of Situ Gintung lake in South Jakarta.

Heavy rains proved too much for the dam's aging sluice gate which burst, causing a flash flood that killed almost 100 of the residents and left thousands homeless.

As usual, the misery was quickly blamed on the "bad" weather. In this case, blame also fell on the dilapidated sluice gate, and it was only after the disaster gained public scrutiny that local officials realized they could not cover up the callous human neglect that had occurred.

What followed was more finger pointing and officials attempting to put the blame on others. Banten provincial administration quickly pointed the finger at the Central government's agency for flood controls. Not willing to take responsibility for the disaster, the agency defended itself, saying it had spent Rp 1.5 billion last year on the "proper" management of the lake's spillway.

But residents countered the statement, saying the money had been spent on a jogging track, rather than on the repairs needed.

Then, the Central government that can't afford to be a scapegoat, in turn put the blame on Tangerang municipality for having issued building permits in the area.

Those who have observed such blame games before would know that each time a hazardous situation comes up, these "games" are just a ploy to redirect public attention, until they fizzle out because people lose interest in them.

Officials can then continue to handle matters in the same old ways -- rife with corruption, incompetence, irresponsibility and a disregard for human rights.

Early last month, Jakartans also participated in an election that should have shown the world democracy could thrive here.

However, observations from before and after the election day again revealed the ugly face of incompetence and lack of respect for human rights in carrying out his endeavour.

It was no surprise that after election day there was criticism from poll observers, party leaders, for the shoddy preparations of the "free and fair election".

Complaints of numerous eligible voters left off electoral rolls were most common. Reports emerged of residents of entire housing areas in South Jakarta stripped of their rights to vote for this very reason.

In Depok, a small township in the south of Jakarta, some 8,574 eligible voters could not take part in the election because they were not listed.

The electoral roll problems were blamed on the General Election Commission (KPU), but some tried to shield the KPU from criticism, pointing the finger instead at the Election Supervisory Committee (Banwaslu). The government also got a share of the blame, as it had provided the KPU with outdated citizenship data used as the basis of its electoral rolls.

The International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) reported in March that 76 percent of survey respondents still needed information on voting procedures.

Poll workers in Jakarta had expressed their confusion because of recent changes to electoral regulations.

Internal factors within the KPU as well as external factors from provincial to district levels, have played a part in a systematic balloting fraud.

Meanwhile, several political party leaders have said they are determined to forward their complaints to the Constitutional Court.

But in case this law suit hits another snag, we would be well advised to think hard about how we can avoid further election problems and blame games in the presidential election in July.

With time constraints in mind, the solution needs to be cespleng (potent), just like grandma's herbal remedies that provide an instant cure and strengthen our body against flu or stomachache.

Wouldn't it be a good idea to ask our former colonial masters to organize the upcoming presidential elections?

Please, don't be shocked or embarrassed at this suggestion - instead, consider the practical advantages we could gain from such a move. It could stop us from wasting on another failure, blame games to cover up callous mistakes and the risk of a power vacuum as President Yudhoyono's term expires in October.

Besides, is it really unpatriotic if we choose to learn from others on how to uphold competency, accountability, transparency and respect for human rights? With time constraints on our side, we may as well reflect on this: the proof of the pudding is in the eating.

- RETNO K.DJOJO