New PDI braces for last leg on long political journey<\/p>\n
Frans Surdiasis, Research and Development Unit, The Jakarta Post,
\nJakarta<\/p>\n
This is the 24th and final article of a series on the 24
\npolitical parties contesting the 2004 elections.<\/p>\n
Many people may have forgotten Soerjadi, the former chairman
\nof the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI). Under the leadership of
\nthe 65-year-old, experienced politician, the original PDI -- a
\nresult of the imposed fusion of some nationalist and Christian
\nparties -- experienced some success.<\/p>\n
In what was a stifling political system PDI somehow managed to
\nportray itself and a number of its vocal politicians as the
\nalternative for the young generation including rock fans, who
\ndubbed it the partai metal.<\/p>\n
But then Soerjadi, backed by a Soeharto government that was
\nnervous of rising public support for Megawati Soekarnoputri, took
\na significant role in the breakup of PDI into two camps in 1996.
\nThey came to be known as the Megawati and Soerjadi camps.<\/p>\n
Following the violent takeover, on July 27, 1996, of the PDI
\nheadquarters, which was occupied by Megawati's camp at the time,
\nthe masses at the party congress in Bali gave the party of her
\ncamp a new name, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
\nPerjuangan).<\/p>\n
What followed was PDI's plunge. In the 1997 election it
\nsecured only 3.06 percent of the vote, the worst performance
\nsince its birth. In the 1999 election PDI won only 0.62 percent,
\nor 345,720 votes, with two seats in the legislature.<\/p>\n
The PDI-P, on the contrary, gained 35 million votes. PDI had
\nto sign up to contest the 2004 elections under a new name -- the
\nIndonesian Democratic Vanguard Party (PPDI), set up with
\nactivists of other parties that did not pass the 1999 threshold,
\non Jan. 10 last year, the same date as PDI's birth in 1973.<\/p>\n
The word \"vanguard\" (or penegak) in Partai Penegak Demokrasi
\nIndonesia, says party leader Dimmy Haryanto, refers to the
\nparty's warning of how democracy in the country \"has diverted
\nfrom the true meaning of Indonesian democracy\".<\/p>\n
Dimmy, who with Soerjadi was a long-time activist of the
\nearlier nationalist PNI party, claims a membership of 1 million
\npeople, but told Gatra magazine in January that if the party
\nfailed to pass the threshold of 3 percent of the vote, \"we don't
\nthink we could face the 2009 elections\".<\/p>\n
The party's main hope lies in the disappointment of its former
\nconstituents at President Megawati and her party.<\/p>\n
In an apparent bid to brush off the party's past image,
\nSoerjadi, who was active in PNI's student affiliate GMNI, is
\nabsent from its executive list. The peak of the decline in his
\npolitical career was when he was detained on charges of
\ninvolvement in the 1996 takeover. Now he says, \"that was so long
\nago ... I don't remember\".<\/p>\n
The party leaders hope others, too, will forget, due to the
\nparty's focus on the \"people's\" economy, legal certainty and
\neradication of corruption, a weak point in Megawati's government.<\/p>\n
The party lacks leading figures, apart from funds, on its own
\nadmission. Soerjadi and Dimmy are among politicians of the past.
\nTherefore the leaders have opted for a \"quiet\" campaign, relying
\non leaders of the local branches. Besides, \"all legislative
\ncandidates will go to the villages,\" Dimmy told Koran Tempo in
\nJanuary.<\/p>\n
The only possibility for the party to become associated with a
\ncurrently popular figure lies in its nomination of Siswono
\nYudohusodo as presidential candidate. The former minister,
\nproperty businessman and leader of the farmers' association,
\nHKTI, has, however, been named a candidate by a few other
\nparties.<\/p>\n
The party also displays a simple, far-from-elaborate, party
\nplatform, with vision and mission statements similar to those of
\nother parties. Apparently, it does not even bother to go into all
\nthat old marhaenisme ideology, toted by other parties that
\ndisplay the \"nationalist\" claim and ties to founding father
\nSukarno. Instead, its platform lists newer aspirations of the day
\nsuch as gender equality and environmental \"harmony\", though this
\nis also not unique compared with other parties.<\/p>\n
In contrast to the current government, PPDI says it will work
\nfor \"modern, capable governance that is honest, fair,
\nresponsible ... \"<\/p>\n
It also aims at the formation of a citizenry with \"a strong
\nIndonesian character that is honest, ethical, moral and
\ndemocratic\".<\/p>\n
This is certainly a tall order for supporters of a party that
\nhas the logo of bull -- from whichever camp: They have displayed
\nviolence, even to the \"little people\" they claim to represent.<\/p>\n
But then, as Soerjadi says, \"that was so long ago.\"<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/new-pdi-braces-for-last-leg-on-long-political-journey-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }