Moslem-based party must sail between 2 rocks<\/p>\n
The competition to lead the United Development Party has been
\nthe center of controversy in the weeks prior to the start of its
\ncongress today. Social scientist Amir Santoso believes the
\nparty's biggest challenge is to simultaneously cater to both the
\npolitical elite and the party's supporters .<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The current competition between certain leaders
\nof the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and the Muslimin Indonesia (MI) mass
\norganizations to head the United Development Party (PPP) is a
\nclear indication that political streams still exist in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
The NU represents the traditional Moslems and the MI the
\nmodernists. The conflict between the two factions is not new and
\nwas in fact going on before Indonesian independence.<\/p>\n
When the Japanese occupied Indonesia during World War II, they
\nlumped the NU and the modernist Muhammadiyah into a party called
\nMasjumi. However, as a result of internal conflict, the NU
\ndecided in 1952 to leave the Masjumi and declared itself a
\npolitical party.<\/p>\n
The two organizations were again amalgamated in 1972 into the
\nPPP, but the frictions still exist. In my opinion, divergent
\npolitical ideas are a fact of social life in Indonesia and all
\nefforts to unite the various political streams will therefore be
\ndoomed to failure, particularly if those efforts are attempted
\nfrom outside.<\/p>\n
Besides inter-group conflicts, however, the PPP also suffers
\nfrom conflicts within each faction. Today, in the MI, there is a
\nconflict between Buya Ismail Hasan Metareum, the present leader
\nof the PPP and Husni Tamrin. There is also a contest between
\nMatori Abdul Djalil of the NU and his senior, Yusuf Hasjim.<\/p>\n
Weak<\/p>\n
These conflicts show that all the groups lack cohesiveness and
\nalso indicates that their organization is weak. Not one of them
\nis capable of circumventing internal conflicts. It therefore is
\nvery hard to find an alternative party to counterbalance Golkar.<\/p>\n
Indonesia's political style requires that the PPP leadership,
\napart from possessing organizational qualities, have the
\ncapability of elucidating the political culture. Organizational
\ncapability is needed to keep the PPP unified. The heterogeneous
\nnature of the PPP requires a leader who is acceptable to the
\nvarious factions and who can effectively convey the aspirations
\nof the movement's supporters to the government. Unless these
\naspirations are conveyed in a manner which conforms to the
\nstandards of decorum and ethics of the ruling elite, they will
\nnot be considered.<\/p>\n
I believe that Buya Ismail Hasan Metareum best meets the
\ncriteria for leading the PPP. His composed and non-radical style
\nis well liked by the ruling elite and therefore the government
\nwill in all probability favor Buya Ismail to once again take up
\nthe post. Buya certainly still enjoys a considerable degree of
\nsupport which makes it hard for his competitors.<\/p>\n
On the other hand, the PPP could use a more radical and
\nprogressive leader to enable the party to compete with the
\nIndonesian Democratic Party and rally greater support, especially
\namong the younger generation of Indonesians. Buya Ismail is not
\nthis kind of leader. Therefore, should the forthcoming party
\ncongress decide to retain Buya as party leader, he will have to
\nconcede to being assisted by a party secretary general who is
\nable to communicate with the young but also knows how to convey
\nthe aspirations of the party's supporters to the ruling elite.<\/p>\n
The PPP can be compared to a ship sailing between two rocks.
\nOne rock is the ruling elite which holds the political power and
\nthe other rock is the masses of PPP supporters who expect the
\nparty to be more responsive to their wishes. The new leader must
\nbe able to guide the party safely between these two hazards.<\/p>\n
The writer is lecturer of political science at the University
\nof Indonesia, Jakarta.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/moslem-based-party-must-sail-between-2-rocks-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}