A crop of new parties<\/p>\n
With the winds of reform only just starting to blow across
\nthis country, Indonesians have been watching with a good deal of
\namazement, if not amusement, the emergence of new political
\nparties which are ready to luster up a general election, the
\nschedule of which, at least for the present, is not even known.<\/p>\n
Following in the footsteps of Musyawarah Kekeluargaan Gotong
\nRoyong (MKGR), a group which was affiliated to the ruling Golkar
\nparty but which broke away to proclaim itself an independent
\npolitical party earlier this week; leaders of Murba, another
\nGolkar affiliate, announced the impending formation of a Murba
\nParty. Another recent breakaway from the party system currently
\nrecognized by the government is Syarikat Islam (Islamic
\nAssociation) Party, an affiliate of the Moslem-based United
\nDevelopment Party.<\/p>\n
Other new parties that have emerged during the past week or so
\ninclude the Indonesian Workers Party and the Indonesian Women's
\nParty. And the Indonesian Democratic Union Party (PUDI), which
\nwas established last year but considered illegal, stepped into
\nthe limelight this week when its leader, Sri Bintang Pamungkas,
\nwas released from jail a few days ago after the government
\ndecided to release political prisoners. More new parties are
\ncertain to emerge in the coming days and weeks. Reports even
\nmention the impending formation of an Indonesian Drivers Party on
\nthe island of Sumatra.<\/p>\n
The question that many Indonesians are asking themselves in
\nlight of this newest development is: What to make of this
\namazingly instantaneous emergence of political parties in the
\nwake of the change in government?<\/p>\n
Obviously, the three political parties currently recognized
\nunder laws decreed by the repressive Soeharto regime -- the
\nruling Golkar party, the United Development Party (PPP) and the
\nIndonesian Democratic Party (PDI) -- see in this new trend the
\nfearful specter of disintegration. And although all three have
\nbravely stated that their survival is not in danger, it is clear
\nthat the birth of so many new parties will drastically change
\nIndonesia's domestic political map in the coming years.<\/p>\n
Many Indonesians of the older generation who experienced the
\nera of \"free-fight\" parliamentary democracy in the early 1950s
\nfear that the presence of so many parties might bring a repeat of
\nthe era of endless political bickering that made economic growth
\nimpossible. Such fears may be groundless. Having learned their
\nlesson from history, few, if any, Indonesians have a desire to
\nreturn to the political chaos of the 1950s. Ways could and should
\nbe found to balance freedom with responsibility. The process of
\nnatural selection will do its part in achieving a healthy balance
\nin the longer term, possibly even immediately after a general
\nelection.<\/p>\n
The sudden birth of so many political parties also raises
\nanother no less intriguing point, relevant in particular to the
\nruling Golkar party: If so many of its affiliated groups feel the
\nneed to set up an independent party, who then did Golkar actually
\nrepresent during the past decades? It is no secret that in the
\neyes of many Indonesians, Golkar was the embodiment of the
\narrogance and the repressive manner of the departed regime. And
\nif, or when, Golkar falls apart before a general election is
\nheld, which group of society are its remaining leaders, such as
\nHarmoko and Abdul Gafur, supposed to represent?<\/p>\n
These, surely, are interesting questions and the answers may
\nnot be far away. As for the present, though, a general election
\nis still no more than a promise. When, or even if, it is held
\nremains to be seen. For that matter, indeed, given the
\ncontroversies that persist regarding the legality of his
\nposition, it remains to be seen whether Habibie will survive in
\noffice long enough to make his promise come true.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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