VP criticized for voicing party's interest<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Despite the absence of laws regulating a
\nseparation of party leaders from state leaders, political
\nanalysts suggested on Monday that state leaders avoid
\nprioritizing their parties' interests.<\/p>\n
\"Should politicians become state leaders, then their loyalty
\nto their political parties must end,\" Bachtiar Effendy of the
\nSyarif Hidayatullah State Academy of Islamic Studies (IAIN) told
\nThe Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
Bachtiar made the remark in response to statements made by
\nVice President Hamzah Haz on the inclusion of the Jakarta Charter
\nin Article 29 of the 1945 Constitution during his official visit
\nto the East Java district of Jombang last weekend.<\/p>\n
Hamzah, in his capacity as the chairman of the United
\nDevelopment Party (PPP), insisted that the Jakarta Charter's
\ninclusion in the Constitution, which would mean the full
\nimplementation of Islamic law for Muslims, would not be a threat
\nto other religions in the country.<\/p>\n
Debate over the wording \"obliging its followers to exercise
\nIslamic law\" in the Jakarta Charter, the basic for the Preamble
\nof the 1945 Constitution, ended with the phrase being dropped out
\nof fear that it would cause religious fanaticism.<\/p>\n
Bachtiar said he did not consider the statements extraordinary
\nas Hamzah had ascended to the vice presidency from his position
\nas chairman of PPP. \"This might not be ethical. But how can he
\nforget the platform of his party?\" he asked.<\/p>\n
Frans Magnis Suseno of the Driyarkara School of Philosophy
\nsaid it was normal for state leaders to retain their position in
\ntheir political party as many democratic countries, such as
\nBritain, Germany and the Netherlands, also allowed the same.<\/p>\n
He said all prime ministers and Cabinet ministers in those
\ncountries continued to hold their position in a political party.<\/p>\n
Former German chancellor Helmut Kohl, for example, remained
\nthe leader of the Christian Democratic Party, while British Prime
\nMinister Tony Blair still holds on to his position in the Labor
\nParty, he said.<\/p>\n
\"Of course they fully understand their position. The
\nseparation between a position in government and in the party is
\nnot an obligation,\" Magnis told the Post by phone on Monday.<\/p>\n
Instead of giving a clear-cut opinion, Magnis expected state
\nleaders to voice the nation's aspirations.<\/p>\n
\"I don't want to make a specific comment on the activities of
\nour political elite. It depends on the examination of the whole
\npopulation,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Bachtiar shared Magnis' opinion, saying that the problem did
\nnot lie in the issue or the President or the Vice President's
\nmessage during their official visit.<\/p>\n
The most important thing to do is to modify the recruitment
\nprocess, he said, adding that positions in public office, such as
\nthe presidency and vice presidency, should be filled through a
\ndirect election.<\/p>\n
\"In the future, candidates running for president and vice
\npresident should be elected through a direct election,\" Bachtiar
\nreiterated.<\/p>\n
Bachtiar said both Megawati and Hamzah often sold the programs
\nof their political parties on their official visits as state
\nleaders.<\/p>\n
He said that separating the position of party leader from
\nstate leader would not aid the situation. Even if they quit their
\nparties, they will still have a close association with their
\nparties' platform, he said.<\/p>\n
Bachtiar suggested that the nation develop a discourse on the
\nneed to set up a direct presidential election. \"Should the
\npresident be chosen by a direct election, the debate on this
\nmatter would be closed,\" he added. (08)<\/p>",
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