Families cope with new political choices

Indonesian families are facing a novel situation: more choices to pick from when they go to the polling stations on June 7. The Jakarta Post correspondents Asip Agus Hasani in Yogyakarta, Yusril Ardanis in West Sumatra capital of Padang, and O.K. Mirza Syah and Junardi Harahap in Medan, North Sumatra, report about the new development.

JAKARTA (JP): Fifty-year-old M. Nasution in Medan believes that because he is the breadwinner, he has the right to decide which political party his family should vote for on June 7.

M. Nasution, the principal of an Islamic junior high school, said he would certainly vote for Golkar, the way he has always done for the past elections under Soeharto's New Order administration. He thinks his wife and the eldest two of his five children should do the same.

"I am the leader of this family, and I have the right to decide what political party my family should support," he said.

His wife, 42-year-old Mastijah, however, has a different idea.

"Yes, my husband tells me to vote for Golkar, but I am not going to. I will vote for PPP (the United Development Party)," she confided to The Jakarta Post. "I was educated in a pesantren (Islamic boarding school), and so NU (Nahdlatul Ulama, Indonesia's largest Islamic organization) is in my blood."

"I will not choose any other parties because it's what I believe in," she said.

The two eldest children, Ahmadi and Evi, have also discovered their own preference.

Ahmadi, who recently became a civil servant, knew he was expected to vote for Golkar, but math student Evi knew she would vote for the National Awakening Party (PKB).

"I joined the Rectors Forum's poll monitoring body, and my rector introduced us to the party...I was impressed, so I am going to vote for PKB," Evi said.

Mastijah shrugged when asked about the differences in the family. "Everyone is entitled to their preference. Besides, Golkar will still win anyway," she said resignedly.

Another family in Medan said they were coping well with the new situation. The eldest children of the late independence fighter Hasbullah Parinduri recalled how loyally their parents supported Masyumi, a now-defunct Islamic party under Sukarno.

Now Parinduri's offsprings have to adjust to the new reality of having 48 parties to choose from, including several whose founders claim to be the torch bearers of the old Masyumi.

Thirty-nine-year old A. Hanafi Parinduri believes the spirit of the Masyumi lives on in the Crescent Star Party (PBB). The treasurer of the PBB branch for West Medan said: "The PBB suits my conscience because it is based on Islam."

"We know that its leaders also are people of principle. And many Masyumi figures are now leaders of the PBB."

Hanafi's younger brother, Khairul Muslim Parinduri, 34, said he would vote for the Indonesian Masyumi Islamic Political Party (PPIIM), because he believes the party is the true heir of the old party.

Khairul, who is now chairman of the West Medan branch of the party, said his parents educated them about what old Masyumi was. He was convinced that only the PPIIM represents the spirit of the old Masyumi.

Asmu'i Parinduri, 29, however, said he would of course vote for Golkar. He is now an activist of the Indonesian National Youth Committee, an affiliate of the ruling party.

The youngest of the family of eight, 27-year-old Husni Thamrin, is a supporter of Amien Rais' National Mandate Party (PAN). "Because it's the party of true reformists," he argued.

Given the differences, heated political debates were therefore a frequent feature in the family.

"That's so usual. We just have to draw the line at some point, namely that these arguments should not make us stop talking with each other," elder brother Azhari, 42, said.

The large family house of the Parinduris is now the local office for three parties: PPIIM, PBB and PAN.

Party gatherings are held there almost every night. Last Thursday evening, for instance, dozens of PAN young supporters met there and discussed the plan for a party function.

Hanafi pointed at a 35-square-meter room in which activists of the three parties took turns holding their meetings.

"This is actually a legacy of our parents who taught us what democracy was, what deliberation was and how we should respect the voice of everyone involved, regardless of our ages," said Husni, who is affectionately called Adek or younger brother.

"Our father taught us to have discussions... (in order) to bring about changes," Adek added.

Twenty-five-year-old Yasrizal Lafau is an activist of the Justice Party (PK), which is dominated by young Muslims. The engineering student at the Sumatra Utara University in Medan was recently chosen as the party's legislative candidate for Sibolga regency.

He now finds himself increasingly at odds with his father, Zakaria Lafau, who is the regent of Nias.

"Naturally, my father is a Golkar man, and my mother too," Yasrizal said, describing how for decades Nias recorded over 90 percent wins for Golkar. Now, Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) is becoming progressively stronger in the regency and Yasrizal recounted how some of its activists warned of possible bloodshed should Golkar claim a win there.

"My father lives in Nias, and we meet, say, once a month, and then we argue for hours over politics," Yasrizal said, shaking his head as he described the tension felt in the family every time such discussions occurred.

Saying no

In Padang, Mursal Esten, a professor at the Indonesian Arts School in Padangpanjang and at the Padang Teachers' Training College, admitted he was still confused as to which political parties were "for real" and which were set up by people who were merely feeling the euphoria caused by the new political opening.

"I believe academicians should not be actively involved in certain political parties," he said. "That's why I personally decided to stay out of politics."

Mursal's father, the late Sutan Nurdin, was a leader of Muhammadiyah and an activist of the old Masyumi. "I learned politics from my father. And not getting involved in politics is also a political decision," Mursal said.

Mursal's children Triono, Eka and Arya agreed not to be involved in any political parties either. "My wife, Rowati, often tells them not to get involved in politics," Mursal said.

Edi Dasril, a Padang businessman whose Lucky Music Room club burned down during the May 1998 unrest, was recruited by an old friend in Jakarta to become an activist of the Murba Party.

"My friend guaranteed I would be the chairman of the party's branch in Padang," said Edi, whose wife, Sofia, is the secretary- general of the Murba branch.

They are both legislative candidates, their eldest son Louis is the candidate for the House of Representatives, while their younger children Kiki and Ade actively help out in party functions.

Tenant farmer Zulkifli in Kuranji village, Payakumbuh regency in West Sumatra, said he was now facing problems because his children were activists of different parties. The eldest, Dedi, is a supporter of PAN, the middle child, Yessie, supports PBB, while the youngest David, supports yet another party.

"They keep trying to convince me that theirs is the best party," Zulkifli sighed. "They argue about everything, from the party logo to their presidential candidates every day."

Gianto, a dawet (traditional sweet drink) vendor in Klewer Market, in Yogyakarta, agreed with his wife, Tukini, the party of their choice was PDI Perjuangan. Their eldest son, Jono, 17, however, supports a different party.

"You know, I once had an argument with him, not because I didn't want him to support PKB, but because I told him not to join that party's rallies. He insisted, and so I gave up."

"I no longer dare tell my son not to do anything. Kids. If you tell them not to do something, they do it anyway in spite."

"I used to vote for Golkar, but that's because the village chief intimidated us. If we didn't vote for Golkar then, he would make it difficult for us when we needed papers at his office," Gianto said.

Tukini agreed. "If a wife doesn't pick the same party that her husband does, they wouldn't be called husband and wife, right?"

"I don't mind voting for Bu Mega (Megawati Soekarnoputri)'s bull... Besides, there are too many parties to choose from now, so rather than being confused, I would rather choose the same party with my husband... so we won't need to argue..."

"I like Bu Mega, because we're both women," Tukini added.

Pedicab driver, Suparjiono, also in Yogyakarta, is another supporter of PDI Perjuangan. "I would let my wife choose any party she wants, but I choose PDI Perjuangan. I have been a supporter of PDI since I was young...

"I get really upset if people say bad things about Bu Mega... she is the daughter of Pak Karno (Sukarno)... I may be poor, but I always make a point of visiting his grave in Blitar (east Java) every two years.

"My son Koko is also an activist of PDI Perjuangan, but my younger one, Yono, wants to vote for PAN. That's okay. It's just that I get irritated if he talks incessantly about how good Amien Rais is," Suparjiono said.

Surti, Suparjino's wife who sells tempeh, agreed. "Yono keeps persuading me to vote for PAN...Actually I don't care. What I care about is whether the tempeh sells out."