Minority parties voice growing frustration<\/p>\n
YOGYAKARTA (JP): The massive rallies held over the weekend by
\nminority party supporters indicates a growing frustration with
\nthe ruling Golkar organization's political maneuvering, political
\nobserver Riswanda Imawan said yesterday.<\/p>\n
The lecturer at Gadjah Mada University's School of Social and
\nPolitical Sciences said that the masses are "tired of keeping
\ntheir mouths shut in the face of (Golkar chairman) Harmoko's
\nmaneuvers".<\/p>\n
"The political elite has underestimated the public's wisdom,"
\nhe said. "The political elite has been taking the public's
\nsilence as a sign of helplessness...this is what prompted (the
\nminority party supporters) to hold their rallies."<\/p>\n
Around 10,000 supporters of the Moslem-based United
\nDevelopment Party (PPP) gathered on Sunday to celebrate the
\nparty's 23rd anniversary, and later held a procession on
\nmotorcycles and other vehicles around the city. Hundreds of
\nactivists of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) followed suit.<\/p>\n
Yogyakarta military district chief Lt. Col. Sukedi told The
\nJakarta Post that one person was injured and a house was
\ndestroyed when the procession turned violent. The authorities
\nhave detained three people for questioning.<\/p>\n
Riswandha said the rallies were "the proper response" to the
\nsimilar gatherings held by Golkar over the past several years,
\nwhich, some observers say, smack of electioneering. Golkar
\nexecutives deny the charges, referring to their gatherings as
\n"meetings of cadres".<\/p>\n
By law, campaign rallies are only allowed to be held several
\nweeks before the election date.<\/p>\n
"The PPP and PDI rallies on Sunday indicate that the public
\nhas become more critical," Riswandha said. "Now, if the
\ngovernment and Golkar condemn or try to forbid the PPP and PDI
\nsupporters (from holding such rallies again), there will be a
\ncounteraction to Harmoko's political maneuvering."<\/p>\n
Alfian Darmawan, chief of the PPP's local chapter, agreed with
\nRiswandha. He said the PPP rallies were held "spontaneously" as a
\nresponse toward Golkar's early electioneering.<\/p>\n
"The PPP central executive board did not instruct the
\nsupporters to hold a procession. It was spontaneous," he said.
\n"Golkar has been doing exactly the same thing on a national
\nscale."<\/p>\n
"This is a form of public protest of the unfair political
\npractices here," explained Alfian, who is also a lecturer at
\nMuhammadiyah Moslem University.<\/p>\n
"The supporters of PPP and PDI have started to realize that
\nthey have been placed on the sidelines," he said. "They have not
\nhad the opportunity to voice their political aspiration, while
\nGolkar clearly monopolizes the political scene."<\/p>\n
Riswandha called on the government to deal with issue in order
\nto prevent conflicts. "It would be wise for the government to let
\nthe PPP and PDI supporters (hold their rallies)," he said.
\n(02\/har\/swe)<\/p>",
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