Frans Surdiasis, Research and Development Unit,
\nThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Three daughters of the country's founding father, Sukarno, have
\nnow entered the political arena. The victory of Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri and her party in the 1999 elections, and subsequent
\ncriticism of her presidency, has inspired her sisters to seek a
\nvoice in politics. Megawati's youngest sister, Diah Mutiara
\nSukmawati Soekarnoputri, now leads the Marhaenisme Indonesian
\nNational Party (PNI Marhaenisme).<\/p>\n
The party's name is an acknowledgement of its links with the
\nfirst president, whose charisma has not yet been matched. Its
\nlogo of the bull also evokes memories of the original PNI co-
\nfounded by Sukarno in 1927. Other parties, including those of the
\nsisters, claim to propagate the true marhaenism, which was based
\non defending the poor and self reliance for the country, as
\nintroduced by Sukarno.<\/p>\n
Sukmawati -- who like her popular brother Guruh Soekarnoputra
\nis better known for her dancing skills -- began her political
\ncareer in 1999 when she joined the central board of the revived
\nPNI. The party was co-founded by Supeni, a prominent public
\nfigure and a former ambassador to Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Sukmawati insisted that the family agreement made in 1978,
\nwhen Sukarno's children agreed not to enter politics, no longer
\napplied. Indeed, her sisters also changed their minds.<\/p>\n
In the 1999 elections, Sukmawati, a legislative candidate for
\nSurabaya municipality, East Java, failed to obtain a seat. After
\nthe PNI failed to pass the electoral threshold, PNI Marhaenisme
\nwas set up and declared to be a revival of the first PNI
\nestablished in 1927.<\/p>\n
Although her elder sisters are more popular, Sukmawati has
\nlong been passionate about her father's teachings. She was
\ninvolved in the People's Marhaen Movement (Gerakan Rakyat
\nMarhaen), an organization which aimed to popularize Sukarno's
\nteachings, and became its chairperson from 1991 to 1998.<\/p>\n
In this capacity, she was once examined as a witness by the
\nAttorney General's Office in the case of Budiman Sudjatmiko, the
\nformer leader of the Democratic People's Party (PRD) who was
\naccused of leaning toward Marxism.<\/p>\n
Declared in May 2002, the party's target for 2004 is not yet
\nclear. Marhaenisme itself has become a \"vote getter\" for parties
\nas it has never had the chance to become an ideology in itself.
\nThis is in part due to the official sanction of Pancasila as the
\nstate's ideology under the rule of Soeharto, Sukarno's successor.
\n(Pancasila's conception is also attributed to Sukarno, but
\nSoeharto effectively banned any other interpretation than that
\npropagated by the New Order.)<\/p>\n
Roeslan Abdulgani, a former ideologue of Sukarno and his
\nsuccessor Soeharto, once said that none of Sukarno's children
\nshowed a \"true\" understanding of his teachings. In 1999, none of
\nthe parties using the old name of PNI and marhaenisme gained
\nsignificant votes.<\/p>\n
Sukmawati's party relies on its populist agenda of championing
\nthe little people, the marhaen. But it needs to strive much
\nharder, despite dissatisfaction with Megawati and her party among
\nthe underprivileged.<\/p>\n
Even so, Sukmawati may not appeal to \"Sukarno loyalists\"
\nlooking for an alternative. She has a much lower profile than
\nthose of her sister Rahmawati, and former Megawati-loyalist, Eros
\nDjarot, who leads another party based on Sukarno's teachings.<\/p>\n
PNI Marhaenisme would likely seek votes in the traditional
\nstrongholds of the PNI, including East Java, Central Java, Bali
\nand some provinces of Sumatra, such as Bengkulu and Lampung. PNI
\nMarhaenisme also claims that is enjoys wide support in Papua.
\n In 1999 the leader of the PNI party, Supeni, secured 377,137
\nvotes nationwide. In Central Java Province, PNI took eighth
\nplace. In Bali province it took sixth place.<\/p>\n
Performing better in Bali than in other regions, the party
\nhopes that Sukmawati will secure it more votes in 2004. Sukarno's
\nmother was from Bali and parties using symbols associated with
\nSukarno are popular there.<\/p>\n
In East Java, the party is ready to compete for seats by
\nnominating Usep Ranawijaya, who was once a popular figure among
\nnationalists.<\/p>\n
However, to target young voters, Sukmawati may have to work on
\nupdating her campaign material.
\n The party has received one lucky sign, at the drawing of the
\nballot numbers arranged by the General Election's Commission,
\nSukmawati joyfully acquired number one.<\/p>",
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