Frustration and laziness behind new pro-democracy group<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The formation of a new pro-democracy group, the
\nUnited Democratic People (PRD), which the authorities have
\nquickly declared illegal, reflects societal dissatisfaction with
\nthe existing political groups, a political observer says.<\/p>\n
Juwono Sudarsono, dean of the University of Indonesia's
\nSchool of Social and Political Sciences, said he understands why
\na group of student and non-governmental organization (NGOs)
\nactivists established the organization on Monday.<\/p>\n
\"I think, it reflects efforts to voice public demands which
\nthey (the activists) think cannot be accommodated by the existing
\n(sanctioned) groupings,\" he said yesterday.<\/p>\n
However, Juwono said that formation of the group reveals a
\nwidespread \"laziness\" in society.<\/p>\n
It is easier for some people to just establish a political
\nmovement rather than meeting the challenge of building a strong
\norganization out of an existing party, he said.<\/p>\n
He said the current political structure and the sanctioned
\npolitical groups are adequately open and provide wide enough
\nlatitude for people to voice their political aspirations.<\/p>\n
\"It's just that people tend to be impatient and want a quick
\nfix,\" he said. \"There is a kind of laziness to follow through the
\nexisting structure of democracy.\"<\/p>\n
The impatience is one of the reasons a number of people
\nestablished social political groups or movement \"in the name of
\nspontaneity and openness\", he said. \"However, are these groups
\neffective?\"<\/p>\n
\"Impatient\" action such as the establishing of PRD is easier
\nto take than to diligently handle the detailed organizational
\nworks such as recruitment, subscription, and holding meetings for
\npolicy making, he said.<\/p>\n
Democratization<\/p>\n
A group of students and NGO activists announced the
\nestablishment of the PRD on Monday, saying they were aware of the
\nrisks they face.<\/p>\n
\"This is not a party, this is a grouping of those ... people
\nwho want to encourage the process of democratization in
\nIndonesia,\" said chairman Sugeng Bahagijo.<\/p>\n
Coordinating Minister of Politics and Security Soesilo
\nSoedarman said the government would not recognize the group.<\/p>\n
\"PRD is a political movement and therefore could not be
\nrecognized by the government,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Asked whether the authorities would take action, Soesilo
\nretorted, \"It's like a car. Are you going to let go a car which
\nhas no proper papers?\"<\/p>\n
\"If the new organization is political in nature, then it
\nviolates the law,\" according to Soetojo NK, the Home Affairs
\nMinistry's Director-general for Social Political Affairs.<\/p>\n
The Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) yesterday countered the
\ngovernment claim declaring PRD to be illegal.<\/p>\n
\"Such statements are premature and show a lack of sensitivity
\nabout the society's political dynamics demanding more
\narticulation and accommodation,\" it said in a statement signed by
\nits leaders Adnan Buyung Nasution and Mulyana W. Kusumah. (swe)<\/p>",
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