Government won't meddle in political parties' affairs

Government won't meddle in political parties' affairs

JAKARTA (JP): New Minister of Home Affairs Lt. Gen. Syarwan
Hamid has promised that the government will not meddle in the
affairs of political parties or mass organizations.

"Intervention (by the government) is a thing of the past,"
Syarwan said in his first meeting as minister with chief editors
and editors of Jakarta-based mass media.

He admitted that the status of a home affairs minister as
"patron of Indonesian politics" applied under former president
Soeharto's regime and was the reason the government had often
been perceived as a meddler in the affairs of political parties
and mass organizations.

"That can be changed. What's important is the approach (of a
home affairs minister towards organizations). The status should
not be a cause for fear," he said.

Under Soeharto's administration, political parties were kept
under tight rein presumably so they could not grow in strength
and become a threat to the government-backed Golkar, while non-
governmental organizations were regulated so they did not become
"problematic".

Together with former home affairs minister Moch. Yogie S.M.,
Syarwan endorsed the ouster of Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI)
chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri in 1996. Critics said the
endorsement was a form of meddling.

Syarwan, who resigned on Monday from his post as House deputy
speaker following his appointment as home affairs minister last
Friday, agreed that the government needed to take immediate
concrete steps to act on the public's calls for reform in all
sectors.

"It is also the task of the home affairs ministry, but we also
request public support to carry out these duties," he said.

He promised to assemble all governors and regents here next
week in order to brief them about the ministry's reform programs.

The ministry has started working on amendments of the five
political laws which critics claim have crippled Indonesians'
political participation.

Asked whether it would be possible for Megawati to establish a
new political party, Syarwan said: "Why not? Everybody can
establish a party, but let's study the regulations first."

"We are still studying the regulations. For instance, will
amendment lead to the establishment of 100 parties? What would
happen then?"

"We are still working on the regulations. Just wait and see,"
he said. (swe/vin)