Activists set up new political party<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A group of student activists announced yesterday
\nthe formation of a new political party, the People's Democratic
\nParty, defying the law and the government.<\/p>\n
The activists and some government critics, including Sri
\nBintang Pamungkas, met at the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute to
\nannounce the new party. Many of the activists have been accused
\nof masterminding riots and strikes.<\/p>\n
In May, Bintang established his own party, the Indonesian
\nDemocratic Union Party.<\/p>\n
\"We are not seeking government recognition,\" said Budiman
\nSujadmiko, chairman of the new party. \"We establish this party
\nbecause Indonesian politics are deteriorating. The room to move
\nhas gotten smaller...look at what's happening to the Indonesian
\nDemocratic Party.\"<\/p>\n
The youths unofficially founded the party two years ago. It
\nhas been involved in many pro-democracy activities, and has
\nopenly backed strikes in Surabaya, Surakarta and several other
\ncities.<\/p>\n
\"We're going to conduct 'extra-parliamentary' activities, such
\nas political campaigns, seminars, discussions and mass activities
\naimed at demanding that the 1985 law on politics, and the Armed
\nForces' sociopolitical role be revoked,\" said Budiman, a dropout
\nof Yogyakarta-based Gadjah Mada University's School of Economics<\/p>\n
The party elected Petrus H. Hariyanto, a graduate of Semarang-
\nbased Diponegoro University's School of Letters, as its
\nsecretary-general.<\/p>\n
Petrus said the party acts as an umbrella for a number of
\norganizations such as the Indonesian Students Solidarity for
\nDemocracy and the Indonesian Association of Workers Movement. The
\norganizations have reportedly established 41 branches across the
\ncountry. (16\/swe)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/activists-set-up-new-political-party-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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