More realistic stance toward past wrongdoings needed<\/p>\n
Forming a strong coalition to sustain the government until
\n2004 should be the main agenda of this week's scheduled meeting
\namong political party leaders, says political science lecturer
\nPratikno from the Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta.<\/p>\n
Question: What should be achieved in the meeting among
\npolitical party leaders scheduled this week?<\/p>\n
Answer: As the biggest political party, I hope the Indonesian
\nDemocratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) will take the
\ninitiative of setting up a strong coalition to sustain the
\ngovernment until 2004. This could be a solution to weak
\ngovernment.<\/p>\n
Even if Gus Dur (President Abdurrahman Wahid) resigns and Vice
\nPresident Megawati Soekarnoputri takes over the presidency, her
\ngovernment still needs a strong coalition that would guarantee
\npolitical parties' consistency in supporting the government.<\/p>\n
We should derive a lesson from Gus Dur's election as
\nPresident, after which he was betrayed by the axis force (the
\nloose coalition of Islamic parties).<\/p>\n
But before offering such a coalition, PDI Perjuangan should
\nensure that an agreement (outlining power sharing arrangements)
\nhas been reached between Megawati and the President.<\/p>\n
Megawati should actively convince Gus Dur that there are now
\nonly two options available to him: that he resign or that he
\nremain a President without authority to govern.<\/p>\n
Without an agenda (of a coalition agreement), the meeting
\n(among political party leaders) will be useless.<\/p>\n
Q: What kind of coalition proposal should be introduced by PDI
\nPerjuangan to other political parties?<\/p>\n
A: The proposal should contain important agenda items that the
\nadministration, possibly under Vice President Megawati, would run
\nuntil 2004. And the most important thing is that it also includes
\na clear stance by the administration on human rights violations,
\ncorruption cases and any other wrongdoing committed in the past.<\/p>\n
One of the mistakes of Gus Dur's administration is its stance
\nagainst the past, which has made the old players become too
\nreactive and defensive because they feel insecure.<\/p>\n
Megawati should learn to be more realistic. There are too many
\nplayers in the country's economic and political arena who could
\nbe involved in past wrongdoings, therefore we can't treat them as
\nenemies. The coalition agreement should contain a spirit of
\nreconciliation with the past.<\/p>\n
We have to retreat several steps from Gus Dur's expectations
\nin dealing with the past, for no matter how dark their record in
\nthe past, the old players remain strong now.<\/p>\n
Q: Which political parties would join the coalition?<\/p>\n
A: PDI Perjuangan should retain Gus Dur's National Awakening
\nParty (PKB) in the coalition because it is the party which is
\nmost free from past mistakes. The other members of the coalition
\ncould be any political parties which agree with the coalition
\nagreement offered by PDI Perjuangan.<\/p>\n
Q: What scenarios lie ahead?<\/p>\n
A: From a pragmatic point of view, Gus Dur's early resignation
\nwould help Megawati form and run an effective government, but
\nthis could be a mistake if Gus Dur's supporters become angry over
\nhis resignation. Therefore, Gus Dur should remain President
\nwithout the authority over daily policy making, which would be
\ntaken over by Megawati. Gus Dur's presidency would only be
\nsymbolic, which could lessen his supporters' discontent.<\/p>\n
It would be the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR)'s role to
\nprovide such a political settlement with a legal basis, in the
\nform of an MPR decree. A presidential decree would not be
\nadequate because the decree must also stipulate the Vice
\nPresident's obligation to accept responsibility for all
\ngovernment policies during her term, while the President would be
\nfree from such a responsibility because he would no longer have
\nthe right to influence the policy making process.<\/p>\n
Q: But President Abdurrahman has so far not been willing to hand
\nover such authority...<\/p>\n
A: This is the best option for him instead of either being
\nimpeached or retaining his post and causing the country to
\ncollapse. Megawati and people around him, particularly from
\nNahdlatul Ulama (NU) and PKB, should convince him of this. Gus
\nDur must agree with the idea, it is only a matter of time. The
\nsooner he bows to the compromise the better.<\/p>\n
PDI Perjuangan supporters at the grass roots level, the
\nabangan people (considered casual regarding religion), have
\nstarted a new phase of relations with President Abdurrahman
\nsupporters, the rural (pious) santri who are NU followers. This
\nstarted several years ago as a result of the good relationship
\nbetween Megawati and Abdurrahman. The two groups' future
\nrelations depend on the future relationship between these two
\nleaders.<\/p>\n
Q: What do you suggest?<\/p>\n
A: The two groups (of supporters) are those mainly referred to
\nwhen politicians speak of \"the people\". Ironically, they have
\nbeen marginalized for years. Therefore, it would be terrible if
\nthe two fight each other. Many young figures and politicians in
\nNU and PKB, such as Ali Masykur Musa, are likely to understand
\nwhat is needed to maintain good relations between the two groups
\nof supporters.<\/p>\n
Even (NU chairman) Hasyim Muzadi is a good leader who can
\nmaintain independence, despite the fact that NU's most popular
\nfigure, Gus Dur, is now the center of state (power).<\/p>\n
Regarding PDI Perjuangan's supporters, Megawati remains the
\nonly hope to keep her loyal supporters under control. She will
\nsurely do everything possible to prevent her supporters from
\nconflicting with those of Gus Dur. However, leaders of the two
\ngroups should maintain vigilance over any developments at the
\ngrass roots level. In this case, the media also plays an
\nimportant role in conveying proper information to the public.
\n(Asip A. Hasani)<\/p>",
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