DPR told to limit political parties

DPR told to limit political parties

Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The alumni of the National Resilience Institute (Lemhannas) are
calling on lawmakers to draft a law that limits the number of
political parties in order to achieve political stability and
security.

They are also calling for a cut in the number of factions at
the House of Representatives (DPR) to allow quick and effective
decision-making.

"Strategic steps should be taken to, among other things, group
political parties by similarities in their political platform,
and enact a law limiting the number of political parties," they
said in a document submitted to House leaders on Friday.

Lemhannas alumni chairman Agum Gumelar said the same document
would be submitted to President Megawati Soekarnoputri.

Over 250 political parties have registered with the Ministry
of Justice and Human Rights to participate in the 2004 general
election, when the country is expected to hold its first ever
direct presidential election.

Given the number, experts and political analysts have
expressed fear that the 2004 presidential election will fail to
produce a legitimate government.

Agum said that limiting the number of political parties would
ensure that there would be only one majority winner in the 2004
general election, a condition required to produce stability in
the political, economic and security sectors.

The recommendations were outlined in a 20-page booklet
presented by the chairman of the Lemhannas alumni, Agum Gumelar,
to House Speaker Akbar Tandjung at a hearing on Friday.

Also present at the hearing were Lemhannas alumni members
Burhanuddin Napitupulu, Parni Hadi, Rosita Noer, Gunawan
Sumodiningrat and Rully Chairul Azwar.

Akbar was accompanied by his deputies Soetardjo
Soerjogoeritno, Muhaimin Iskandar and A.M. Fatwa. Legislators
Ibrahim Ambong and Astrid Susanto also attended the hearing.

Lemhannas also suggested that the number of factions in the
House of Representatives (DPR) had to be downsized so that the
decision-making process at the House would be quicker.

According to Lemhannas, the political interests of each
faction at the House had made enactments unacceptable.

Mounting public disappointment had also created social
distrust, the report said.

The institute, which gained credibility during Soeharto's
administration, suggested that the selection of state officials
by the House and the selection of a governor and regent by the
local legislatures be suspended to avoid money politics.

Lemhannas suggested that the national leader appoint
caretakers to work until the 2004 election.

In the defense and security sectors, the institute was
concerned about unsettled sectarian conflicts in some regions and
the presence of separatist movements in Aceh, Papua and Maluku.

In an attempt to lure back foreign investors, Lemhannas
suggested that the government issue incentives to investors. In
addition, the government has to also uphold law enforcement and
political stability, the institute said.

As for the efforts to terminate separatist movements in Aceh,
Papua and Maluku, Lemhannas recommended that the government take
strict action.

In response to the recommendation, House Speaker Akbar
Tandjung said that the lawmakers would use the booklet as a
reference for their duties.

"We agree with the recommendations from Lemhannas. We have a
responsibility to empower the legislature," said Akbar.