Agitators' ulterior motives

Agitators' ulterior motives

From Koran TEMPO

About a year before the 2004 general election, the political
climate in our country is warming up. Although the election
campaign is still a long way off, many political parties and
their leaders have begun to show their muscle to win the hearts
of the people.

Take, for example, what happened on Jan. 31, 2003. A number of
political figures, such as Fuad Bawazier, chairman of Alumni of
the Islamic Student Union (AHMI), Rachmawati Soekarnoputri
(chairwoman of the Pioneers Party), Eurico Guterres (former
commander of the East Timorese militiamen), KH Abdurrahman Wahid
(former president), Emha Ainun Nadjib (poet and cultural
activist), Habib Rizieq (Islam Defenders Front), Habib Hussein
al-Habsi of Indonesian Mujahidin Council (MMI), Hikayat Atika
Karwa (All-Indonesia Workers Union) and Anis Matta (Justice
Party), non-governmental organizations, university student
leaders, political party leaders and mass organization leaders,
declared the establishment of the Front of the Message of Popular
Sufferings.

The stated main goal of this front is to fight for the
interests of the public. However, to achieve this goal, they will
reject and boycott government policies, especially those
concerning social and economic matters, which they consider harm
the community.

Obviously, some of the founders of this front, such as Fuad
Bawazier and Habib Rizieq, are embroiled in one problem or
another of their own.

Therefore, this front is essentially a political vehicle for
them to pursue their own interests. Each of those signing up to
the front's foundation must have had their own ulterior motive,
particularly in connection with the 2004 election. Their claim,
that they will fight for the interests of the people, is only lip
service.

I believe their call to boycott government policies is
counterproductive, particularly in relation to attempts to bring
about economic recovery. The Indonesian people have been mired in
a deep crisis and this is now worsened by such a provocative
call.

Clearly, what the front seeks to do will likely lead to
friction, which, in its turn, may trigger a riot. Of course, we
do not wish to see this happen in our beloved country. We hope to
see peace grow here.

YUDHA RAHARJO, Jakarta