It's time for Megawati to break the silence<\/p>\n
By Rahayu Ratnaningsih<\/p>\n
BOGOR (JP): Pondering over an interesting, if \"blasphemous\"
\nwish from Soedjati Djiwandono (The Jakarta Post , June 16, 1999)
\nfor Indonesia to adopt the Indian-Pakistani model, dividing
\nourselves peacefully into two separate sovereign states, one
\nsecular, the other Islamic, secular nationalists surely can't
\nhelp feeling the same way.<\/p>\n
As foreseen by many, Megawati's path toward the presidency is
\nstill a rocky one, despite her party's imminent victory in the
\ngeneral election. Islamic groups, led by the Indonesian Muslim
\nIntellectual Association (ICMI) -- which claim to represent the
\naspirations of the Muslim community, some 85 percent of
\nIndonesia's population -- are once again displaying their
\nparanoia that the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
\nPerjuangan) won't be able to represent the Muslim majority.<\/p>\n
ICMI chairman Achmad Tirtosudiro was quoted by the Post (June
\n16) as saying: \"I cannot imagine if the minority groups dominate
\nand play an influential role in the deliberation and the
\nestablishment of the laws... It's unthinkable.\"<\/p>\n
This is a fallacy. Women make up the majority of the
\npopulation of this country, so does it mean that women should
\ndominate the House of Representatives (DPR) and the government,
\nwhile his own groups are quite conservative in regard to women's
\nleadership?<\/p>\n
Additionally, according to the ongoing electoral results that
\nTirtosudiro claimed to have wholeheartedly accepted, the majority
\nof the population voted for PDI Perjuangan, or supported Megawati
\nfor the presidency. The fact that PDI Perjuangan has many non-
\nMuslim legislative candidates is irrelevant, because logically
\nthe party wouldn't have performed so well without a majority of
\nMuslim supporters.<\/p>\n
Hence, ICMI's insistently presumptuous claim of speaking for
\nthe Indonesian Muslim population as a whole is misleading and
\nunsubstantiated. Muslims are by no means a monolithic group of
\npeople, and the Muslims that ICMI represents, though not an
\ninsignificant group, belong to the minority. So, Tirtosudiro
\nshould stop using the erroneous majority-minority dichotomy,
\nbecause it is obvious that the majority of Indonesian Muslims do
\nnot share his and his group's divisive aspirations. They are
\naspirations which actually only disguise a greater purpose,
\nnamely making Habibie the next president or, in other words,
\nmaintaining the status quo.<\/p>\n
What they should remember is the fact that a majority of
\nMegawati's supporters were unflustered by the Indonesian Ulema
\nCouncil's (MUI), ICMI and their Islamic group supporters'
\ninsidious last minute campaign to sabotage the expected PDI
\nPerjuangan-Megawati victory.<\/p>\n
This should be sufficient indication for them that their
\nmanipulation of Muslims' religious sentiment is useless, selfish,
\nand dangerous, and should be stopped immediately. This is a
\nrepulsive political maneuver from those who claim to be
\nreligious.<\/p>\n
Another fact tells us that even in many of the United
\nDevelopment Party (PPP)'s traditional Muslim bases, such as
\nMadura, a significant exodus to PDI Perjuangan occurred. In those
\nplaces, PDI Perjuangan also won. Had a majority of Indonesian
\nMuslims wanted the type of representatives that ICMI or MUI
\nforced through, they would have voted for PPP or one of the other
\nnumerous Islamic parties. But they didn't, so ICMI has to be fair
\nand accept this without reserve. This is the time for the
\npeople's voice to be heard, despite -- it goes without saying --
\nICMI's or Achmad Tirtosudiro's covert objection to what they
\nwant, or say.<\/p>\n
Nurcholish Madjid, the country's most prominent Muslim
\nreformist, even expressed his concern over this irrational fear.
\nHe called for Islamists to engage in some introspection. The
\nreason they were unfit to win the elections was because of their
\nerroneous paradigm. They emphasized the sentimental-emotional
\nline, and they were lazy to initiate discourses. He further said
\nthat religious-based simplifications and sentiments bear no
\nrelevance to politics, despite the majority of the population
\nprofessing to Islam. Other than being irrelevant, if such an
\nemotional attitude is maintained and cultivated, Muslims shall
\nnever make meaningful progress on the country's political stage.<\/p>\n
Even Amien Rais has shown admirable sportsmanship. He is
\nstanding by an earlier statement in which he said he would comply
\nwith the election results by giving the first opportunity for
\npresidency to the winning party's candidate. He has expressed a
\nwillingness to coalesce with PDI Perjuangan and the National
\nAwakening Party (PKB).<\/p>\n
However, he understandably holds some reservations about
\nMegawati's commitment to reform. He has challenged her to clarify
\ncertain points that his party has been fighting for, i.e.
\namendment of the I945 Constitution, abolition of the military's
\ndual function, wholehearted pursuit of Soeharto's wealth and his
\ntrial and allowing an open discourse on federalism.<\/p>\n
Unless PDI Perjuangan's stance on these issues is clarified,
\nhe cannot make an immediate decision. So, it's clear that the
\nball is in Megawati's court. It is her choice now whether to
\nremain deafeningly silent and play princess as usual, or be
\nproactive by trying to clarify an ongoing polemic among her
\ncritics regarding her stance toward reform.<\/p>\n
Silence is not always golden, especially when her position in
\nthe current political constellation is under a big question mark,
\nwhile her loyal supporters expect her leadership to be a fait
\naccompli. It is a test she should be relied upon to at least
\ndefend by refuting her opposition.<\/p>\n
She should, for heaven's sake, help her people to help her by
\nbeing more communicative, proactive, responsive and reachable.
\nRegarding Amien's currently undecided stance, people can only
\nexpect that he realizes it is better to choose Megawati as the
\nlesser of two evils (Megawati and Habibie).<\/p>\n
Habibie, as no one can fail to have noticed during the past
\nyear of his administration, has proved himself to be a part of
\nthe problem, not the solution, to our crisis. A coalition with
\nGolkar will only ruin his reputation and disappoint his
\nsupporters. Admittedly, while Megawati shows a semblance of being
\nreform-oriented, she is worryingly conservative in comparison to
\nRais' progressiveness. That doesn't mean, however, that the two
\ncan't mix.<\/p>\n
As many analysts have stated, the only viable coalition for
\nthe ruling party is between PDI Perjuangan, PKB, and Amien's
\nNational Mandate Party (PAN). This will be even more difficult to
\ndispute considering the most unfortunate reality that despite its
\nnumber three position in the number of votes gained, Golkar
\nexceeds PKB's seat gains in the DPR and People's Consultative
\nAssembly (MPR) twice over.<\/p>\n
This means Golkar is the second strongest party, and if this
\nis not followed up by the aforementioned coalition, the
\nlikelihood is that Golkar, with its ICMI-led Muslim supporters,
\npossible PPP support and the military, will rule for the eighth
\ntime.<\/p>\n
Even if PAN, so far has obtained only 9 percent of the vote,
\nit shouldn't feel downhearted, because PAN is a future party and
\nAmien has great potential to be a future leader of the country.
\nTime is on his and his party's side. The more educated Indonesian
\npeople are, the stronger his party's support base will be.
\nAnalyst Wimar Witoelar said PAN would be needed in the coalition
\nas a spice which would make the \"dough consisting of the two main
\ningredients tastier\".<\/p>\n
While Amien doesn't seem to be overly concerned by Megawati's
\ngender, despite Gus Dur's modernist stance, the more conservative
\nPKB factions will strongly object to allowing Megawati to be the
\ncountry's next leader. This can pose as an unfortunate
\npredicament for the country, because, as Amien said, proposing
\nalternative presidential candidates would be undemocratic and a
\nkind of betrayal to the people who had the image of their chosen
\nleader in mind while voting.<\/p>\n
It is true that PDI Perjuangan does not have an absolute
\nvictory, but looking at the reality of our multi-party system
\nthat has allowed 48 parties to contest the election, absolute
\nvictory is a remote possibility by any means. PDI Perjuangan's
\ncurrent realization of approximately 40 percent of the vote is a
\nspectacular gain, since it has defied popular predictions that
\nthe winner would obtain a maximum 30 percent to 35 percent of the
\nvote.<\/p>\n
Hence, maturity and sportsmanship among the \"losers\" should
\nprevail. What parties should remember is that their common
\nuncompromising goal of eliminating the remnants of the New Order,
\nmanifested in Golkar, should override personal ambitions and
\ngroup interests.<\/p>\n
It will be saddening if the anti-status quo parties are not
\nonly fighting against Habibie, but also Megawati. If that
\nhappens, and sadly symptoms are beginning to indicate that this
\nwill happen, we can kiss our struggle for reform goodbye.<\/p>\n
Hence, Gus Dur's and Alwi Shihab's moderate influence should
\nbe able to appease this objection among their party's Islamic
\nclergy. Ideal or not and like it or not, Megawati is the most
\ndeserving candidate for the position. And she definitely won't
\ntake 32 years to leave the job, so the coveted position of
\npresident will be available to other suitable candidates in
\nfuture elections.<\/p>\n
When Golkar has been subdued, then we can start fighting among
\nourselves for whatever vision, mission, and aspirations each of
\nus is striving for, and, in so doing, attempt to resolve our
\ndifferences at that stage.<\/p>\n
Minister of Home Affairs Syarwan Hamid proposed PDI Perjuangan
\nand Golkar should rule together, an idea that will surely be
\nopposed by many. Nurcholish Madjid suggested Golkar coalesce with
\nPPP to form a strong opposition and forget the dream of returning
\nto the power stage for a (long) while, especially considering the
\nthousands of vote-rigging reports it is accused of in almost
\nevery area. Thirty-two years are enough to be nauseating, it
\nshould -- and this is not negotiable -- give an opportunity to
\nothers.<\/p>\n
PDI Perjuangan's victory is the Indonesian people's victory.
\nGive it a chance to govern from within a coalition and appoint
\nits presidential candidate. Should it be just another incarnation
\nof the status quo, there are many opportunities in the future to
\ntopple it democratically, just as Golkar is now under pressure.<\/p>\n
The writer is director of the Satori Foundation, a center for
\nthe study and development of human excellence through mind-
\nprogramming techniques.<\/p>",
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