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