Observers hail PPP-Megawati alliance<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Observers have given the thumbs up to the United
\nDevelopment Party's (PPP) move to embrace Megawati Soekarnoputri
\nloyalists but warn it may backlash if not properly managed.<\/p>\n
They said Wednesday in separate interviews that if the
\nalliance did materialize, it would be fragile because the two
\ncamps had fundamentally different political agendas.<\/p>\n
Contributing ideas were political observers Muhammad Hikam,
\nDaniel Dhakidae and Alexander Irwan.<\/p>\n
At the center of the debate is the PPP's maneuver to
\naccommodate the many frustrated Megawati supporters who are
\nconfused as to what party they should vote for in the May 29
\nelection.<\/p>\n
Megawati, elected Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) chief by a
\npopular vote in 1993, was ousted in a government-sanctioned rebel
\ncongress last year. The government has barred her and her
\nsupporters from running in this month's poll.<\/p>\n
Hikam from the Institute of Indonesian Sciences said that if
\nPPP was serious in wanting to win over Megawati supporters to its
\ncause, the party should adjust its political agenda.<\/p>\n
Although formally claiming to be an open party, PPP is
\nconsidered a Moslem party, while Megawati and her followers are
\nnationalist, he said.<\/p>\n
If PPP failed to adjust its political agenda to bridge the
\ndifference, Megawati loyalists may refuse to vote for it when
\npolling day comes, he said.<\/p>\n
\"I'm afraid Megawati loyalists are only enthusiastic about
\njoining the PPP campaign; that does not necessarily mean they
\nwill vote for PPP,\" said Hikam.<\/p>\n
Megawati, first president Sukarno's eldest daughter, has
\ncalled on her supporters to vote for any party they like.<\/p>\n
Megawati loyalists generally prefer campaigning for PPP
\ninstead of the dominant party Golkar. During PPP rallies, they
\nhave chanted pro-Megawati and PPP slogans.<\/p>\n
PPP Surakarta branch chief Mudrick Sangidoe met Megawati on
\nTuesday. PPP chairman Ismail Hasan Metareum, better known as
\nBuya, said Wednesday he was optimistic PPP's showing in the
\ncoming election would be better if Megawati joined forces with
\nhim.<\/p>\n
Hikam said PPP accepting Megawati's loyalists, if it happened,
\nwas only a piece of political pragmatism since both groups were
\nfundamentally different.<\/p>\n
He said PPP might face government action and criticism from
\nmembers if it tried to ally with Megawati.<\/p>\n
The party's leaders in Jakarta appeared more skeptical about
\nforging the coalition than its middle-level leaders in the
\nprovinces, he said.<\/p>\n
Daniel Dhakidae described the latest PPP move as \"great\",
\nsaying the joining of rival political forces was the first
\ninstance of its kind during the 30-year-old New Order government.<\/p>\n
Coalitions between parties only happened in a parliamentary
\ndemocracy, he said.<\/p>\n
Daniel said the phenomenon reflected an angry protest against
\nthe whole political system created by the government, including
\nthe general election organization and political laws.<\/p>\n
He said PPP might face political risks if it accepted
\nMegawati's supporters. But the coalition would raise PPP's moral
\nstature in public and would help change its image as a closed
\nIslamic party.<\/p>\n
\"I think PPP should accept Megawati's loyalists,\" Daniel said,
\neven though the move would require a great deal of moral courage
\non the part of the party's leaders.<\/p>\n
\"I think, based on his actions before and during the campaign,
\nBuya has such moral courage,\" Daniel said.<\/p>\n
Alexander believed Megawati would not publicly declare her
\nsupport for PPP because it would taint her image as a PDI leader
\nand she would risk losing popularity by doing so.<\/p>\n
PPP and Megawati were impossible to coalesce since they had
\nsignificantly different orientation and histories, he said.<\/p>\n
\"Also, how would they share power?\" he asked. (jsk)<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/observers-hail-ppp-megawati-alliance-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }