Color and politics in Surakarta

Surakarta is in the midst of an interesting change. A number of public buildings that were once white have been painted yellow. Public buildings elsewhere are normally whitewashed because it makes them easier to see, especially during the night.

But activists of the United Development Party (PPP) have in the past few days repainted public buildings around the city's Alun-Alun square and Grand Mosque white. Their argument is that everywhere else white is the standard color for public facilities.

The idea to paint the buildings yellow came from the local authorities. Now, on seeing the fresh yellow paint already replaced by white, the local authorities are offended. They have threatened to press legal charges against PPP unless party activists stop their action and paint the buildings yellow again.

The local party activists, on the other hand, are getting the support of the provincial party board in Semarang and have threatened to take the local authorities to the State Administrative Court. They have also threatened to repaint all yellow public facility buildings in Central Java white.

The case is interesting in its development because of its political nuances. The controversy will spread to other provinces and feelings against and in support of the government will surface creating hostilities.

One suggestion is to preserve the present status quo while waiting for a regulation on the issue to be decreed. During the process of drafting such a regulation it is expected a heated debate would erupt in the local legislature. This would be better for the growth of our democracy.

At the same time, however, the debate will go on in the community, which would adversely affect the situation in these pre-election months. The local administration will have to accept the reality of becoming unpopular among a section of the community.

Another political aspect is the impression of a conflict, which could lead to popular sympathy. Planned or otherwise, two participating parties in the upcoming general elections are now engaged in a contest. As in a silat (indigenous Indonesian martial art) contest, one contestant prepares to strike while the other feels he has the right to do the same.

People should not be forced to carry out an idea. People's representatives need to be invited to participate in dialog. It would be better if the problem could be solved locally and no one had to be a loser.

-- Republika, Jakarta