JP\/3\/DEMOKRA
\nThis is the 20th article in a series on the 24 political parties
\ncontesting the 2004 elections.<\/p>\n
Security comes before recovery: Susilo's party<\/p>\n
Sandy Darmosumarto
\nResearch and Development Unit
\nThe Jakarta Post
\nJakarta<\/p>\n
Disillusion typically follows euphoria, and one usual response
\nis a wish to return to the good old days, or at least a semblance
\nof them. This is the inspiration behind many new parties, and the
\nDemocratic Party is no exception.<\/p>\n
Therefore, the figure of retired general Susilo Bambang
\nYudhoyono conforms with the image of some of a potential leader
\nconcerned with order and security, with a fair pinch of
\ndemocracy, respect for human rights and respect for the military.
\nThe communications skills of the coordinating minister for
\npolitical and security affairs, who, like other officers, had
\nmilitary training in the United States, are not bad either.<\/p>\n
With such a figure one's fears of the reformasi era going wild
\nwith its ugly excesses are somewhat appeased, and hopes are
\nraised that the country might be able to resume some of its
\ndignity lost during the crisis. Susilo fared comparatively well
\nin a number of polls on favorite future leaders held last year
\n(although a bulk of respondents, or 34 percent of those polled in
\nSeptember by the International Foundation for Election Systems
\nsaid they didn't know whom to nominate as president).<\/p>\n
He lost the vice presidential contest in 1999 to Hamzah Haz,
\nthough he gained unanimous support from the military and police
\nfaction in the legislature -- and has now benefited from
\ndisappointment at the current leadership.<\/p>\n
He has been nominated as presidential candidate, not only by
\nthe Democratic Party; he is also being considered by at least
\nanother party led by a retired general, Edi Sudradjat of the
\nIndonesian Justice and Unity Party (PKP Indonesia). If Susilo was
\nin Golkar, formerly the most powerful party, he might have made
\nits convention of presidential candidates more lively.<\/p>\n
And Susilo, military chief of staff of territorial affairs
\nfrom 1998 to 1999, will also benefit from the fact that there is
\nno rule against parties embracing figures beyond their own circle
\nas their presidential candidate.<\/p>\n
He recently gained positive PR for his ethical stand when he
\nstated he would resign from the Cabinet, even before the
\ngovernment passed a rule on making ministers non-active if they
\nwere running for the presidency along with their boss, Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri.<\/p>\n
Susilo's supporters and cofounders of this party include
\nscholars and legislators who supported him in 1999. The party's
\nred-and-white logo bears its nationalist colors in line with the
\nnation's flag, and the party booklet says the triangular star-
\nshaped logo symbolizes harmony, pluralism and humanism, against a
\nblue, pacific background.<\/p>\n
Prioritize a sense of security, the party implies, and
\neconomic, social and political stability will follow. To heal the
\nnation its agenda promises "recovery, reform and reconciliation".
\nLike-minded celebrities such as Dedy Mizwar and Angelina Sondakh
\nsit on its board, already sprinkled with MA and MBA degrees.<\/p>\n
All this from a retired general with no trail of annoying
\ncharges of human rights abuse, and the new party expressing
\nconfidence of being able to pass the threshold.<\/p>\n
But party leaders like Budhisantoso, a professor of
\nanthropology at the University of Indonesia, know that much work
\nis needed to make people actually latch on to the party logo and
\npierce it on election day.<\/p>\n
No matter how popular a political figure may be, what good is
\nthat if people don't know what party he comes from?<\/p>\n
The party's deputy secretary-general, Ponti Pandean, told The
\nJakarta Post that his party was "an alternative for people from
\nall walks of life" who were disappointed with the current
\nsituation and the internal struggles found in large, established,
\npolitical parties like Golkar.<\/p>\n
Ponti claimed that public demand for Susilo's leadership was
\nstrong in regions prone to conflict and rioting such as Nanggroe
\nAceh Darussalam -- where enthusiastic faces greet Susilo every
\ntime duty calls to the troubled province -- and the eastern part
\nof the country. His estimates sound quite extraordinary; around
\n30 percent of total votes in the eastern regions would favor the
\nparty, he said. Then again, the party can look to secretary-
\ngeneral E. Mangindaan, a respected retired military figure and
\nformer governor of North Sulawesi.<\/p>\n
Another hopeful source of votes is Java, especially in East
\nJava, where Susilo's hometown, Pacitan, lies.<\/p>\n
The party, however, lacks links to mass organizations compared
\nwith others. Nevertheless, its executives hope that Susilo's
\npopularity will also draw voters from Muslims in the largest
\norganizations, the Muhammadiyah or Nadhlatul Ulama.<\/p>",
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