Mega has to change her 'queen-like stature'<\/p>\n
The internal bickering of the Indonesian Democratic Party of
\nStruggle (PDI-P), may deal the major party a massive blow at a
\ntime that it is still reeling from a double election defeat last
\nyear. Mochtar Buchori, a senior PDI-P advisor, shares his views
\nwith The Jakarta Post's Dwi Atmanta and M. Taufiqurrahman on how
\nto rebuild the party in a bid to regain public trust.<\/p>\n
Question: Can you tell us more about the ideas for reform
\nwithin PDI-P?<\/p>\n
Answer: The ideas have been around for a long time. Since
\n2000, there has been a need in the PDI-P for a reform drive.
\nLoyalty was paid to an individual, while one of the main
\ncharacteristics of a modern political party is that has to be
\ncivic-oriented.<\/p>\n
But what was gaining currency in PDI-P was a cult of
\npersonality that prevented it from striving for the people's
\ninterests. That is why we need a reform or renewal. However, this
\nidea was never understood by the leaders; it means a certain
\nlevel of education, something that the party never achieved.<\/p>\n
Reform is also important because PDI-P has never had tangible
\nconcepts on how to deal with the country's myriad of problems
\nsuch as education, corruption and poverty. Unless there is a
\nreform, those issues will never be raised within the party and
\ninstead, the party is now busy with trivial things like how
\ncertain leaders can cling to power.<\/p>\n
So this is not about replacing Megawati?<\/p>\n
To me this is a problem of a system and not of an individual.
\nThere are ones who are impatient with change and have blamed
\nMegawati's leadership style as being the source of the problems.
\nIf PDI-P wants to become a big party, it has to find new
\nleadership, because Megawati does not understand the problems of
\nthe future.<\/p>\n
She cannot grasp issues like nationalism in the global
\nsetting, which are very different now compared to what she was
\ntaught by (her father president) Sukarno. We need a more educated
\nleadership that can relate to the party's past glory, but does
\nnot dwell on the past.<\/p>\n
Who is the most appropriate leader then, for reform?<\/p>\n
This will be an uphill battle, and it mustn't be left to old
\nparty members, not even Arifin Panigoro, but people like
\nLaksamana Sukardi, Roy BB Janis and Guruh Soekarnoputra.<\/p>\n
But the emergence of Guruh indicates that even the reformist
\ncamp has failed to dispel the ghost of Sukarno and seems to want
\nto capitalize on his charisma.<\/p>\n
Charisma is a rare gift that can't simply be inherited. We
\nshould learn from India, they carried on after (the country's
\nfounding father) Jawaharlal Nehru's demise. After the great
\npersonalities go, we must carry on with ordinary personalities.<\/p>\n
(Doing without a charismatic leader) can be done through party
\neducation. Look at Nahdlatul Ulama; its young members have
\noutdone (former chairman) Abdurrahman Wahid. Look also at the
\nNational Awakening Party (PKB), its young members managed to
\nsteer the party without Gus Dur (Abdurrahman). Without Amien
\nRais, the National Mandate Party (PAN) can get its act together
\ntoo. But with PDI-P the seeds of democracy are not there yet.<\/p>\n
All signs seem to indicate that Megawati will indeed lead PDI-
\nP for the next five years. Is there no way she will respond to
\nreform?<\/p>\n
If she wants to start reforming things, first she has to
\nabandon this queen-like stature and regal lifestyle ... What we
\nneed now is real transformation, from semi-feudal to democratic.<\/p>\n
Now there are three camps within the PDI-P, those who want to
\nuphold the status quo, the reformist group and what some have
\ncalled the purification group. The last group wishes to banish
\nthe Gang of Three (Pramono Anung Wibowo, Gunawan Wirosarojo and
\nSutjipto) but think Megawati can stay. The reform group wants
\nmore thorough change. The first group is one who will fight for
\ntheir position until the last gasp. It will depend on each camp
\nto find an amiable solution.<\/p>\n
But hasn't all access has been blocked by Megawati's camp?<\/p>\n
Within the congress, we may not be given access, but we can
\nvoice our grievances outside. We also see that the congress is
\nflawed, as it has robbed the democratic rights of party members
\nby reducing the voting rights to local branch representatives.<\/p>\n
Won't this friction and possible breakaway only give the
\nadvantage to other political parties?<\/p>\n
That is part of the risk that we have to bear. But the reform
\ngroup has stated clearly that ... reform is to prevent the
\nparty's further deterioration. Without it, PDI-P may get less
\nthan 10 percent of the votes in the 2009 election.<\/p>\n
Aren't the leaders aware of the impending danger?<\/p>\n
No, because they are blinded by personal interests. Like the
\nones who sit on the central board now, if they lose their
\npositions now, they will lose everything.<\/p>\n
What happens if Megawati gets elected for the 2005-2010 term?<\/p>\n
I predict that votes will drastically decrease in the 2009
\nelections. The motivation for her to get reelected as party
\nleader is that she wants to run for president in 2009 election.<\/p>\n
In her speech, Megawati spoke about outside interference from
\na third party, what was she referring to?<\/p>\n
The real third party is party members who've grown restless.
\nThe government is too busy with managing this country, if that is
\nwhat she was referring to. We're in an era when big personalities
\nare tumbling, Soeharto was the first, Akbar Tandjung and Gus Dur
\nat the NU congress in Boyolali. Will Megawati suffer the same
\nfate? I can only speculate.<\/p>\n
Will this transformation issue dwarf other political agendas,
\nlike preparations for elections?<\/p>\n
Whatever happens in this congress, 2005 will be a messy year
\nfor PDI-P; if it can manage to get its act together, then it will
\ngrow strong in the following years leading to the election. But
\nif it fails, then it will meet its destruction in 2009.<\/p>",
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