Indonesia lacks statesman, says political observer<\/p>\n
A'an Suryana and Sri Wahyuni, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The stubborn resistance by party leaders holding public offices
\nto hang up one of their hats was a clear sign that too many of
\nthe country's leaders were selfish and uninterested in the well-
\nbeing of the country as a whole, according to one academic.<\/p>\n
Political observer from the Yogyakarta-based Gadjah Mada
\nUniversity (UGM) Riswandha Imawan said on Wednesday that judging
\nby their resistance to give up one of their posts, none of the
\ncountry's political leaders were truly statesmen.<\/p>\n
\"A statesman always considers how he or she can utilize their
\nposition for the wider public interest, and a politician merely
\npursues power for their own short-term interests,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"In the dual position controversy, the country's political
\nleaders are yet to achieve statesman status,\" Riswandha told The
\nJakarta Post.<\/p>\n
Pressures have mounted for party leaders holding public
\noffices to quit one of their posts to avoid conflicts of
\ninterest, but they have all refused to do so.<\/p>\n
Political observers have pointed out at least two important
\nreasons why party leaders should avoid double positions. First is
\nthat dual positions made it extremely difficult for the leaders
\nto spare their time for both party and public affairs, and also
\nbecause it offers an opportunity for political leaders to abuse
\ntheir powers in favor of party and personal interests.<\/p>\n
Party leaders holding public offices include President
\nMegawati Soekarnoputri, who is also chairperson of the Indonesian
\nDemocratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan); Vice President
\nHamzah Haz, chairman of the Muslim-based United Development Party
\n(PPP); Justice and Human Rights Minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra,
\nchairman of the Crescent and Star Party (PBB); House Speaker
\nAkbar Tandjung, chairman of Golkar; and People's Consultative
\nAssembly (MPR) Speaker Amien Rais, chairman of the National
\nMandate Party (PAN).<\/p>\n
Reasons given by party leaders for resisting public pressure
\nto quit included their strong conviction that they were able to
\ndistinguish between public and private interests, and that they
\nhad pledged not to abuse their power.<\/p>\n
Megawati said last Sunday that she would be violating the
\nparty's constitution if she resigned as party chairperson since
\nshe was formally and constitutionally elected by the party's
\ncongress.<\/p>\n
Amien initially wanted to set the tone by offering to resign
\nas chairman of PAN, but strong resistance from within his own
\nparty prompted him to abandon the plan.<\/p>\n
Amien's colleagues in the party blocked his will to quit the
\nchairmanship during the party's recent national meeting on the
\ngrounds that \"the party is still too young to be abandoned by
\nAmien.\"<\/p>\n
According to Riswanda, the dual position controversy suggested
\nthat the leaders were still intent on pursuing their private
\nambitions and interests, while disregarding the greater public
\ngood.<\/p>\n
Had the political leaders been true statesman, they would have
\nchosen to either serve the public or serve their party, he added.<\/p>\n
Another political observer from UGM Affan Gafar said that
\nthere were at least two reasons why the political leaders remain
\ndefiant to stay on as party chiefs.<\/p>\n
First, they were afraid of losing control over the party's
\ndecision to select party members in the House of Representatives
\n(DPR) which still remains the sole prerogative of the party
\nchairpersons.<\/p>\n
\"And secondly, there will be no guarantee that the political
\nleaders will be the parties' presidential candidates for the 2004
\nelections, should they quit the top party posts,\" he said.<\/p>",
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