Govt critics seek public support

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)