Pakpahan launches critical book<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The recently-freed leader of an independent
\ntrade union, Muchtar Pakpahan, called on the Armed Forces (ABRI)
\nto take a neutral stance and withdraw its support for the ruling
\npolitical grouping Golkar.<\/p>\n
\"All this time, ABRI has not been neutral and in fact 'has
\nplayed a part' through its concept of social and political roles,
\nand even joined one political grouping, Golkar,\" Pakpahan said
\nduring the launching of his book, A Portrait of the State of
\nIndonesia, on Friday.<\/p>\n
During the modest ceremony at the SBSI trade union
\nheadquarters, Pakpahan critically discussed a wide range of
\nsocial and political issues. He also called for the lifting of
\nrestrictions on the number of political parties in the country.<\/p>\n
\"I suggest that we allow the people to decide which political
\nparties have the right to survive,\" Pakpahan said.<\/p>\n
By law, the state recognizes only three political parties --
\nthe ruling Golkar, the Moslem-oriented United Development Party
\n(PPP) and the Christian-nationalist alliance, the Indonesian
\nDemocratic Party (PDI).<\/p>\n
The three parties were the result of the fusion of many
\nparties prior to the 1975 law on political parties.<\/p>\n
Pakpahan suggested in his book that anybody could set up
\npolitical parties but only the two largest winners in elections
\nshould be allowed to be represented in the legislative body. The
\nothers should then choose to join one of the two winners by
\nforming coalitions.<\/p>\n
In the 129-page book, Pakpahan also criticized the
\npresidential appointment of 75 of the 500 member parliament and
\nhalf of the 1,000 member People's Consultative Assembly (MPR),
\nthe highest legislative body.<\/p>\n
The president appoints 75 military members to sit in the
\nparliament. The military do not vote in elections.<\/p>\n
Pakpahan, who is a lawyer by training and who received his
\ndoctoral degree in 1993 at the University of Indonesia's Law
\nSchool, also criticizes Indonesia's legal system and the lack of
\npress freedom in his book.<\/p>\n
His mentor, Prof. H.R. Sri Soemantri, said in the book's
\nintroduction that from a scientific point of view, the book has
\nvarious weaknesses and shortcomings.<\/p>\n
\"The book's content reflects the character of the writer as an
\nactivist, even as chairman of the SBSI trade union,\" Soemantri
\nsaid. \"I don't always agree with all of his views written in this
\nbook.\"<\/p>\n
However, the public should read it with an open mind regarding
\nthe writer's opinions and views, Soemantri said.<\/p>\n
Pakpahan said the book's rough draft was written during his
\nnine months of detention in Medan, North Sumatra. He was
\nimprisoned for three years by the Medan court in November 1994
\nfor inciting mass labor unrests there in April 1994.<\/p>\n
An appeals court extended the sentence in January by another
\nyear, after which Pakpahan appealed to the Supreme Court.<\/p>\n
The government, which does not recognize SBSI, blamed the
\nweek-long labor unrest in Medan in April last year on the
\nindependent union. The demonstration later degenerated into anti-
\nethnic Chinese rioting that led to one death and the destruction
\nof private property.<\/p>\n
Pakpahan was temporarily freed from prison pending the Supreme
\nCourt's decision on his appeal. His sentencing incited harsh
\nreactions from several western countries. (swe)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/pakpahan-launches-critical-book-1447893297",
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