Govt critics seek public support

SEMARANG, Central Java (JP): Prominent government critics are seeking greater public support for their petition expressing concern over current political developments, known as the "July 1st Statement".

Outspoken chairman of the 30-million strong Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) Abdurrahman Wahid said here on Tuesday that he and the other signatories of the petition will distribute over five million forms to the general public. Those who wish to express their disapproval of recent political developments are expected to sign the forms and return them to the group.

A group of intellectuals and government critics announced last week they had signed a petition expressing their apprehension over what they viewed as increasing political violence and repression of democracy.

The July 1st Statement was then handed to Speaker of the House of Representatives Wahono.

Apart from the NU chairman, other signatories of the statement included former Armed Forces chief of sociopolitical affairs Lt. Gen. Bambang Triantoro and former speaker of the House Kharis Suhud.

Abdurrahman, or Gus Dur as he is affectionately known, said the petition forms were being distributed in response to many who had asked him how they could sign on to express their support for the July 1st Statement.

Abdurrahman said that even if only one million people sign and return the petition forms, it would still be a good result.

"However, I think the number of forms returned will exceed that number. Even now, we have already received so many expressions of support," he remarked.

"I'm quite confident we can get a mere one million supporters," he added.

While there was no direct reference to the leadership crisis affecting the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI), the timing of the statement's release is regarded by many as a direct response to it.

Furthermore, several signatories of the statement have directly pointed to the PDI crisis as an example of the political dilemma the country is facing.

Dissidents within PDI held a government-backed congress earlier last month and ousted chairperson Megawati Soekarnoputri. However, support for the eldest daughter of Indonesia's first president, Sukarno, has been growing, especially at the grassroots level.

Solutions

Separately, Muladi, the rector of Diponegoro University said here yesterday that such a statement of concern is important for the government. It reminds the officials to introspect, he said.

However, he also pointed out that what was needed is not merely criticism, but concrete proposals to resolve the political quandary.

"I'm sure that every Indonesian is already concerned about the current climate. So let's try to help by providing a solution," he told The Jakarta Post.

Former legislator Sri Bintang Pamungkas said yesterday that the absolute control the executive branch has over other state institutions is one of the reasons why many people issued statements of concern.

He argued that in the current system, there is little effective check of the executive, including that from the House of Representatives.

He maintained that such a situation proves that democratic life in Indonesia has yet to be realized.

Meanwhile in Ujungpandang, South Sulawesi, the July 1st Statement has gained wide-scale support.

As of yesterday morning, some 200 signatures have already been collected in a drive organized by the local branch of Indonesian Consumer Foundation.

A local coordinator, Ikrar Idrus, told the Post that the organization plans to collect at least 1,000 signatures. (har/20/mds)