Defiant politician Bintang forms new political party

JAKARTA (JP): Controversial politician Sri Bintang Pamungkas announced yesterday the formation of his new political party in defiance of the law, and the government.

Bintang however said the Indonesian Democratic Union Party, or PUDI for short, will not be contesting next year's general election because it distrusts the existing political and election system.

Instead, the party will aim to reform the system itself, he said during the announcement in the packed room of the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation.

"We are the fresh blood that will heal Indonesian politics," he proclaimed before a crowd of about 200, including supporters, local and foreign journalists as well as guests.

Bintang announced the line-up of the party's leadership which includes a number of well-known critics of the government as well as human rights activists and student leaders.

The government immediately denounced the establishment of the party as illegal.

The 1985 law on sociopolitical organizations only recognizes three political organizations in Indonesia: Golkar, the United Development Party (PPP) and the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI), H.S.A. Yussac, spokesman of the Ministry of Home Affairs, said.

Yussac also quoted President Soeharto's statement last week that the three existing political organizations are quite sufficient to represent the aspirations of all Indonesians.

While stressing that all new organizations must be registered with the Ministry of Home Affairs, Yussac did not say whether the authorities would reject or approve any application from Bintang's organization.

The Armed Forces also warned that the Indonesian political system does not recognize the presence of an opposition party and said that every citizen must abide by the constitution.

Bintang explained he had no intention of seeking legitimacy from the government. "Our legitimacy comes from the people," he said.

He also invoked chapter 28 of the 1945 Constitution which guarantees the people's right to assemble and associate.

Bintang is currently contesting a Central Jakarta district court verdict which found him guilty of slandering President Soeharto. He has not begun serving the 34 month jail term meted out by the court, pending his appeal to the high court.

He campaigned for the PPP in the 1992 election, later taking a seat in the House of Representatives. He was removed from the House last May after the party decided his harsh criticism of the government and the military were too much of a liability.

Bintang said the new party was prepared to throw its support behind either PPP or PDI in the 1997 election if either one of them were willing to commit themselves to reform the existing political system.

If not, PUDI will go it alone, he said.

PUDI's leadership line up includes H.M. Sanusi and H.J.C. Princen, both staunch critics of the government, as well as Buce Rumamui and Subadio Sastrosatomo in the advisory council.

In the executive board, Bintang is the chairman and is assisted by five deputies: Yulius Usman, Jopie Lasut, Sunardi, Saut Sirait, Beathor Suryadi, and Jimmy Alfons. Saleh Abdullah is the secretary-general, assisted by Agustiana. The treasurers are Mangadang, Jacob Kedang and Hidayat.

Human rights campaigner Adnan Buyung Nasution and former freedom fighter S.K. Trimurti were present at the ceremony, but their names were not included in the line-up.

PUDI's symbol is the shield of Garuda, the mythical eagle, on a red-and-white background, the colors of the national flag.

Yulius Usman said the party believes it can recruit the legions of people who are unhappy with the way the elections have been held in the past.

These people, known in Indonesia as Golongan Putih, the "White Group", either boycott the elections or spoil their ballot papers in protest.

Meanwhile, political observer Marzuki Darusman described the birth of PUDI as a new phenomenon in Indonesian politics.

In Indonesia, political parties are not the sole actor in politics, he pointed out.

Mass organizations are also important and at certain times their importance can exceed that of the political parties, he said, adding: "PUDI has to be seen in this context."

Marzuki explained he did not consider the establishment of PUDI illegal because there is no legislation that prohibits anyone from forming organizations.

"The establishment of a new political organization isn't forbidden, but the need for another one should be carefully considered," he said. (16/imn/mds)

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