Creating a New Indonesia

Creating a New Indonesia

From Media Indonesia

A New Indonesia is a state that is relatively free from the New Order regime viruses. We still do not know for sure which of the 48 registered political parties have been infected by those viruses. Nevertheless we are sure that three big parties at least are real reformists: the National Mandate Party (PAN), National Awakening Party (PKB) and the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan). There are in addition some relatively small reform parties like the Indonesian Democratic Union Party (PUDI) and the Democratic People's Party (PRD). The three big parties have pledged a New Indonesia that will be just, prosperous, will eradicate collusion, corruption and nepotism, straighten out the military's dual function, implement decentralization, respect human rights, enforce the law, refurbish the 1945 Constitution, abolish racial discrimination and enforce democracy. They have just formed a coalition to waylay the pro-status quo parties (contaminated by the New Order viruses).

Therefore, with due apologies to the relatively small reform parties, the strategy to establish rapidly a New Indonesia is to focus the choice only on PDI Perjuangan, PAN and PKB at the general election. By implementing this strategy, after the June 7 election day, the Indonesian nation will be as if reborn with an entirely different face. The self-sacrifice of the small parties and that of voters of other alternatives will be a contribution to this nation. Of course, this kind of strategy is only needed in a situation that gives cause for concern like the present one. At the next general election we will abandon the strategy.

AGUS DALIMI

Jakarta