More NGOs warn of political chaos<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Nine more non-governmental organizations warned
\nyesterday of commonplace political violence, social injustice and
\nabuse of power in the bureaucracy.<\/p>\n
They expressed worries in a petition that the power holders
\nwere moving away from the ideals as established by Indonesia's
\nfounding fathers and from the materialization of popular
\nsovereignty.<\/p>\n
The statement was made by leaders of the Indonesian National
\nUnity organization, New Masyumi, Parkindo, Petisi 50, Forum for
\nRestoration of People's Sovereignty, Young Indonesia
\norganization, Marhaen People's Movement, Forum Perjuangan 1 Juni
\n1945 and Indonesian Prosperous Labor Union.<\/p>\n
Among the signatories were Ali Sadikin, a government critic;
\nSukmawati, daughter of the late President Sukarno; Umar Tosin
\nfrom the New Masyumi; and Abdul Madjid from the Indonesian
\nDemocratic Party.<\/p>\n
Senior journalist Sutan Ali Asli, the spokesman for the
\npetitioners, said the petition will be submitted to President
\nSoeharto, Speaker of the House of Representatives Wahono and
\nother senior officials.<\/p>\n
Reading the statement, Sutan Ali said the organizations are
\nworried about the increasing use of "naked power" to handle state
\nproblems.<\/p>\n
He pointed at the government's move to intervene in the
\nprolonged leadership struggle within the Indonesian Democratic
\nParty (PDI) by endorsing a rebel congress and acknowledging the
\nresults of the unconstitutional forum.<\/p>\n
"People who love democracy, maintain moral standards and
\nuphold the constitution will certainly reject the action to grab
\nthe party leadership," he said.<\/p>\n
Last month at the government-backed congress in Medan, North
\nSumatra, Soerjadi was elected the new PDI chairman, replacing the
\ndemocratically elected Megawati Soekarnoputri.<\/p>\n
On Thursday, a group of intellectuals and political activists
\nsigned a petition, expressing fear of what they viewed as
\nincreasing cases of political violence and repression of
\ndemocracy.<\/p>\n
Among the signatories to Thursday's petition were Abdurrahman
\nWahid, chief of the 30-million-strong Nahdlatul Ulama; Lt. Gen.
\n(ret.) Bambang Triantoro, a former chief the Armed Forces'
\nsociopolitical affairs; and Lt. Gen. (ret.) M. Kharis Suhud, a
\nformer House speaker.<\/p>\n
The nine organizations that drafted the petition called for
\nbetter adherence to the 1945 Constitution.<\/p>\n
Sutan Ali said that the number of terms a president may serve
\nhas to be limited, cabinet ministerial posts should be opened to
\npeople from different political groups and natural resources
\nvital for the public should be controlled by the state.<\/p>\n
The nine organizations also called for "national dialogs" to
\nreview current state affairs and discuss future strategies.
\n(imn\/pan)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/more-ngos-warn-of-political-chaos-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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