PDI-P executive plays down threats of revolution<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
\nPerjuangan) executive Theo Syafei calmed fears over threats by
\noverzealous party members that it would mobilize a mass movement
\nfor a revolution if party leader Megawati Soekarnoputri was not
\nelected as president.<\/p>\n
Theo said on Monday the statements should not be taken
\nseriously and were pure rhetoric.<\/p>\n
He claimed that such vigor from the \"grass roots\" was a manner
\nof expression to show that they continue to support Megawati even
\nthough they were not directly involved in the election process at
\nthe People's Consultative Assembly (MPR).<\/p>\n
\"So don't connote this with a lack of trust toward the process
\nand the Assembly members,\" he remarked.<\/p>\n
However, he also underlined that in a democratic process
\npeople had the right to express their political aspirations and
\nthus peaceful demonstrations of support should be tolerated.<\/p>\n
\"We can't forbid them to do these things, especially if what
\nthey're doing is not in violation of the law,\" Theo remarked.<\/p>\n
Jakarta and other major cities have been the scene of
\nincreasing street demonstrations supporting one of the leading
\npresidential candidates.<\/p>\n
With such a mass concentration of supporters, it is feared
\nthat the situation may erupt should their candidate not be
\nelected on Wednesday night.<\/p>\n
Separately, political scientist Arbi Sanit said on Monday that
\nthe harsh comments and threats of a revolution by PDI Perjuangan
\nwere made to compensate the party's wavering political prowess.<\/p>\n
\"It is meant to provoke people, to glue people to the party,\"
\nArbi said.<\/p>\n
\"Who wants a revolution, do they think it's easy to create a
\nrevolution? They (PDI Perjuangan leaders) are talking like
\nstudents.<\/p>\n
\"Revolution can only occur if 70 percent of the people are
\nsuffering. To suffer in such a way so that there is no other way
\nout. People are still eating properly, supermarkets are still
\nfull nowadays,\" he lambasted.<\/p>\n
Arbi urged PDI Perjuangan executives to tone down its rhetoric
\nand public demonstrations, fearing it might spark counter
\nmovements which could end up in a clash.<\/p>\n
\"It will only disturb the presidential race at the session if
\nthe rival supporters meet and a clash becomes inevitable,\" he
\ntold Antara.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile in Semarang, Central Java, the chairman of the
\nprovincial chapter of the United Development Party (PPP) urged
\nleaders of political parties to disperse party supporters who
\nflock to certain spots of the capital in order to avoid possible
\nbrawls among them.<\/p>\n
M. Toeyfoer said on Monday that nobody wants bloodstains
\nspoiling the election of president by the Assembly.<\/p>\n
\"We are all children of the nation. We should not kill each
\nother only because we have different political attitudes or
\nbecause we have different presidential candidates,\" he told The
\nJakarta Post.<\/p>\n
The flow of PDI Perjuangan supporters from outside Jakarta
\nhave drawn pros and cons, but many say such a mass deployment is
\nliable to ignite a riot.<\/p>\n
That's why the parties' elite, including Amien Rais, Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri, Hamzah Haz, Matori Abdul Djalil and Akbar
\nTandjung, should go to the street to instill in their supporters
\nto go home, Toeyfoer said.<\/p>\n
\"The party leaders should encourage the supporters to trust
\nthe MPR to pick the best person as the new president, which will
\nbe accepted by all layers of society,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the chairman of the Central Java chapter of
\nNational Awakening Party (PKB), Ircham Abdulrochim, said that PDI
\nPerjuangan supporters' appearance in Jakarta reflected their
\nskepticism about how the Assembly would elect the president.<\/p>\n
\"Therefore, the people's representatives should be responsive
\nand careful in responding to the political development or fatal
\nclashes among party supporters will take place,\" Ircham said.<\/p>\n
He said, however, he was optimistic clashes would not happen
\nif Megawati was elected president.<\/p>\n
\"What PDI Perjuangan supporters believe is that the party won
\nthe general election, and therefore Megawati deserves the
\npresidential seat.\"<\/p>\n
In Yogyakarta, senior sociologist Nasikun said that the
\noutpouring of mass support was a result of the obscure politics
\nby party elites.<\/p>\n
\"The game being played by our political elites is causing
\nconfusion and worry among the people who fear a discrepancy
\nbetween the results of the election and the decision of the
\nAssembly,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He warned that if it reached a certain point of anxiety,
\npeople would begin to take things into their own hands and
\nsecurity forces would be unable to stop the emotional
\nfrustration.<\/p>\n
\"This is the problem when you have a system such as ours,
\nwhere at the MPR level the people's sovereignty is represented by
\npolitical elites,\" he said.<\/p>\n
When asked how the situation could be diffused, Nasikun
\nresponded: \"Simple, let Megawati become president\".
\n(44\/har\/sur\/emf)<\/p>",
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