Government's ambiguous stance on PDI deplored<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A political scientist deplores the government's
\nambiguous stance over the ongoing dissension within the minority
\nIndonesian Democratic Party (PDI).<\/p>\n
Ramlan Surbakti of Airlangga University in Surabaya, East
\nJava, said that while the government claims to recognize the
\nleadership of Megawati Soekarnoputri, it has allowed her opponent
\nto hold meetings and establish rival boards.<\/p>\n
He said the ambiguous stance reflects the government's wish to
\ncontrol and align the party so that it is manned only by people
\nit deems acceptable.<\/p>\n
\"The government's effort to control political parties ... has
\ngone too far,\" he told The Jakarta Post. He added that the ways
\nchosen by the authorities to control the organizations even
\n\"violate laws on political parties\".<\/p>\n
He said that according to the laws, the government and local
\nadministrators are to function as \"patrons\", or those who guide
\nthe political parties. However, supervision over the political
\nparties should be limited to questions of ideology and not
\ninvolve the organizations' day-to-day affairs.<\/p>\n
Megawati recently said that since she was elected to the chair
\nof the PDI at a congress in 1993, her leadership had been
\nrepeatedly challenged. One of her most pressing difficulties is
\nthe existence of rival boards of the West Java, East Java and
\nSouth Sumatra branches of the PDI.<\/p>\n
Her opponent, Jusuf Merukh, who claims to be party chairman,
\nrecently \"inaugurated\" the lineup of the branch leadership of the
\nSouth Sumatra branch.<\/p>\n
He held the gathering without permits from the authorities. A
\ncolleague of Jusuf, Rahadi, said his group did not encounter any
\ndifficulties or objections from the local authorities.<\/p>\n
Megawati herself attempted to curb the deepening rift in East
\nJava, by convening a meeting of all provincial branch leaders.
\nThis attempt was thwarted when the provincial administration
\nrefused to issue a permit for the meeting.<\/p>\n
Ramlan said the ambiguity in the government's stance was
\nintentional. \"It's meant as an effort to consolidate power, and
\nto make sure that all political parties are manned by people who
\nare acceptable by the government,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"This is an effort to ensure that the outcome of the 1997
\ngeneral elections will be as the government wishes, and that is a
\nvictory for the ruling Golkar,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said he believes that attempts to undermine Megawati's
\nleadership will continue and will take many forms. (swe)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/governments-ambiguous-stance-on-pdi-deplored-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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