Bintang criticizes PPP congress from the sidelines
JAKARTA (JP): United Development Party (PPP) chairmanship aspirant Sri Bintang Pamungkas, who has been relegated to the sidelines of the ongoing party congress, accused party leaders yesterday of engineering the gathering to protect their own interests.
"Members of the PPP central executive board are behaving like warlords as if they own the party," Bintang said. "And they are treating the ordinary members as if they are of no use to the party."
The outspoken legislator also berated party leaders for summoning security officers to disperse his supporters who had been protesting outside the Haj Dormitory, where the congress is being held.
"What hurt even more was when (the congress authorities) threw out party members and supporters, but, at the same time, invited, and even accommodated, security personnel and 56 officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs," he said.
On Tuesday, the second day of the four-day congress, police forcibly broke up a student rally supporting Bintang.
Dozens of police reportedly waded into a group of around 100 students waving placards and banners in support of Bintang, who is seeking election as head of PPP but cannot even enter the congress compound because he does not represent any branch office.
Police also confiscated the banners and placards, among which read "Sri Bintang is the leader of the future." One banner read, "We are fed up with Buya", a reference to incumbent PPP Chairman Ismail Hasan Metareum.
Many people, including journalists, have complained about the tight security at the congress venue.
Bintang said he was so disappointed with PPP leaders that he has considered the possibility of establishing a new political party.
"Political parties should be independent and conduct their activities in a democratic way," he told the Media Indonesia daily. "They should be respected and their position should be equal to that of the government."
"I will resign from PPP and set up a new party if PPP leaders (maintain their dependence) on the government," he said. "The constitution guarantees me the right to establish a new party."
Political analyst Dr. Maswadi Rauf of the School of Social and Political Sciences at the University of Indonesia, however, deplored Bintang's approach to the whole affair.
"I think Bintang has made a wrong move," he told The Jakarta Post yesterday. "He wants to be a leader, but he spends his time slinging mud at other people instead of trying to win the sympathy of party members."
Balance
According to Maswadi, Bintang should, for instance, balance his criticism of the establishment and party leaders by presenting his own concepts for the improvement of the party.
"He said he wants change, but what kind of change?" Maswadi said. "He should 'charm' the party's leading members, instead of mobilizing the students and forcing his wishes on other people."
Maswadi said Bintang has the potential to become a good leader, but not for now. "He needs 10 to 15 more years to mature and become more experienced, so that he can handle political pressure in a mature way," he said.
The analyst also said establishing a new party may not be the answer to the problems now besetting PPP.
It is doubtful that, even if Bintang can get around the existing laws which recognize only three political groupings, a new party would quickly bring about a more healthy and mature political climate, he said.
"What Bintang, and other leaders, should do is improve the management of the party, develop its human resources and establish solid programs," he said. (swe)