Activists set nonviolent agenda

The Jakarta Post, Yogyakarta

A rare meeting of activists from political and Islamic-based organizations agreed on Tuesday to develop an agenda of political participation that was strictly nonviolent.

The participants came from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), the Golkar Party, the United Development Party (PPP), the National Awakening Party (PKB), the National Mandate Party (PAN) and the Crescent Star Party (PBB).

The participating nongovernmental organizations were the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), Muhammadiyah, the Ka'bah Youth Movement, the Nation's Vanguard, and the Pancasila Youth.

The agreement, known as the Jogja Commitment, was forged amid frequent street protests in Yogya and elsewhere involving youth groups, which often turn violent. Usually, such street violence occurs during election campaigns -- the next is only two years away.

The activists also committed themselves to supporting a campaign for constitutional reform, better law enforcement and economic development.

However, the participants have yet to set out a clear-cut action plan on what they would do to minimize violence in their activities.

"In an effort to achieve civilized behavior in politics, we shall set up a strategic coalition at both national and local levels to cultivate nonviolent politics at all levels of society," said the declaration read out by Sayuti Asyatri from PAN during a media conference at Yogyakarta Radison Hotel.

The dialogue was organized by Gadjah Mada University's department of social and political sciences.