Political dynamism to rise: Experts<\/p>\n
SEMARANG (JP): Indonesia's political climate will warm up this
\nyear as the country gears up to the 1997 general election,
\npolitical scholars say.<\/p>\n
This year will be filled with political intrigues among the
\nvarious political fores in the country, some consolidating and
\nother locked in tug-of-wars, said Cornelius Lay of the Gadjah
\nMada University in Yogyakarta.<\/p>\n
"In 1996 there will be an increase in political dynamism as a
\nresult of the spill over of 1995 problems," Cornelius told The
\nJakarta Post.<\/p>\n
He said with elections just a year away, political groups will
\nbegin to look at each other's potential, and possibly unite to
\ncounter perceived weaknesses.<\/p>\n
"The intense competition will heat up the political
\ncondition," he added.<\/p>\n
Government officials have also predicted that the political
\ntemperature will continue to rise in the run up to Indonesia's
\nseventh general election since independence. They are however
\nconfident that national security and political stability will
\nremain under control.<\/p>\n
Another Gadjah Mada staff lecturer, Afan Gaffar, predicted
\nthat a new "incoming generation" is expected to come to the
\nforeground in the political arena in 1996.<\/p>\n
This new generation will comprise those from the relatively
\nyounger '66 generation known for their anti-communist activities
\nduring the mid-1960s.<\/p>\n
While this generation is not alien to the corridors of power,
\nwith several of this generation already taking up cabinet posts,
\nAfan believed their presence and role will become more
\nnoticeable.<\/p>\n
Looking on back on 1995, Afan summarized it as a year of
\nascendancy of civil society. This can be seen by the many
\nantagonistic incidents against the government.<\/p>\n
He points to the many political trials conducted such as those
\nagainst soothsayer Permadi, former legislator Sri Bintang
\nPamungkas and the persecutions against members of the non-
\ngovernment sanctioned Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI).<\/p>\n
He added that there were also a great deal of societal
\nopposition against the government that sprang up especially in
\nmatters concerning labor issues and land.<\/p>\n
Another political analyst from the University of Gadjah Mada,
\nDadang Juliantara, said the events that occurred in 1995 were a
\nharbinger of those that will occur in 1996.<\/p>\n
He said a general desire for change is growing in intensity
\namong the people.<\/p>\n
Dadang notes outcries against the sidelining of political
\nparties, demands for a free and fair election along with the
\ngrowth of new political organizations are all a manifestation of
\nthe discontent which will continue this year.<\/p>\n
"There is a tendency that the intensity of aspiration for
\nchange will increase in political weight primarily because of the
\ncoming (leadership) succession momentum," said Dadang, who is
\nalso known to be a vocal social activist.<\/p>\n
He estimates that in such a condition conventional responses
\nof securing the status quo will no longer suffice.<\/p>\n
Instead, there will be new approaches such as the growth of
\nnew organizations with more rigid sectarian interests. (mds\/har)<\/p>",
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