Hopeful sources of change for PDI Perjuangan

The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), winner of the 1999 elections, opened its congress in Semarang on Sunday. The Jakarta Post talks to lecturer in political science from the Gadjah Mada University, Cornelis Lay, in Yogyakarta about challenges facing the party. An excerpt of the interview follows:

Question: Candidates of the party leadership Eros Djarot and Dimyati Hartono have said it was better if Megawati Soekarnoputri was no longer chairwoman so she could then focus on her job as Vice President. What is your opinion?

Answer: The argument that Megawati needs more time and energy to concentrate on her task as vice president is a strong one. But what Eros and Dimyati fail to consider is the plan to re- structure the party organization. If the congress passes the plan, it will greatly affect the party leadership board.

Perhaps the two hopefuls still think in terms of the old leadership structure, in which the chairwoman has to expend a lot of energy, as well as perpetuate her own mythic status.

However, I'm still not quite sure that even under the new system the cult of personality regarding Megawati would not adversely affect the party's performance ...

In fact, the cult would more than likely not be quelled by failing to reelect Megawati as party leader. Her multitude of supporters would still worship and support her, and the party would not get anything out of this situation.

In Yogyakarta there's the Loyal Supporters of Ibu Megawati group who wouldn't care if the party dissolved as long as Megawati remains in national politics. There are so many people like these ...

Taufik Kiemas, Megawati's husband, has been said to have negatively influenced party decisions.

I've heard complaints about the lack of teamwork in the party headquarters as the result of lack of harmony between Taufik and Megawati. But I don't see any indication of Taufik's intervention on the party's decisions. Neither am I surprised to learn about this because everybody is manipulating Megawati for his or her own purposes.

How do you see the chance of Megawati retaining the leadership slot?

She is almost certain to be reelected. The question is whether or not the congress participants would elect her in a rational way. I think people like Dimyati and Eros can influence the congress to discuss the issue in a democratic manner. At least we hope the participants would ask themselves why they should elect Megawati again.

The party's elite can certainly take a rational stance on the issue. And they are acutely aware that the party's supporters at the grassroots level have a proclivity for violence.

That's why the party elite are reluctant to take the risk of having to control their supporters. Until today, only Megawati has had the capacity to pacify the masses. This applies to internal party conflicts as well.

What do you think of the party's efforts to groom its cadres?

One of the huge challenges facing the party is a well-planned cadre grooming process, because the current cadres are made up of true believers. So the problem is how to transform these people into rational party cadres.

There should also be a mechanism of accessible entry for the new generation of cadres. Megawati has often said that the party is in dire need of fresh blood. The need for new cadres exists at all levels.

Mochtar Buchori, one of the party's deputy chairmen, said that political parties need to nurture links with academics to get good cadres...

PDI Perjuangan is known to be allergic to college campuses. It is greatly suspicious of academia because of its experiences during the repressive years (of Soeharto).

I do think it has changed significantly. I have often said that not a single political party could survive in this modern world if it alienated itself from the intelligenstia.

Today PDI Perjuangan has made a groundbreaking change of attitude by seeking input from academics including students and researchers for the congress. They have organized seminars in seven major cities.

Your name has been touted for the post as secretary general.

Well, it is difficult for me. I have never discussed that possibility and I have never been contacted by anyone.

When the rumors circulated I received plenty of telephone calls from many regions. Since then I have categorically said that I have never thought of moving into politics. I feel more at home in the academic world. But I will continue to give my contributions to PDI Perjuangan.

Aren't you close enough to its leaders?

I have had close emotional ties with the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) and PDI Perjuangan. I was a National Student Movement (GMNI mass organization) activist. Even those intellectuals who dislike PDI Perjuangan do not have any reason why they should not help the party.

This party is too big to be left alone. A mistake committed by PDI Perjuangan could be a fatal blow to the nation's welfare.

What is the function of a political party?

The most important function of a political party is to contribute to the growth of a nation. If a nation is truly democratic and pluralistic, all political parties should be able to contribute to the making of a harmonious society. They should also serve as a collective tool to channel the political aspirations of the people.

However, what most Indonesian political parties are lacking is the ability to resolve conflicts. Sadly, political parties are often the source of the conflicts themselves.

As a winner of the 1998 election it is only natural that many PDI Perjuangan cadres received government posts. How should the party deal with the government?

I think the party should be both supportive and critical of the government. Megawati has shown that she can take firm action against erring ministers irrespective of their party base. One example is her written admonishment to three ministers from the National Mandate Party (PAN), the Justice Party (PK) and PDI Perjuangan.

How do you see the demand for salary hikes from members of several provincial legislative bodies. Isn't it an indication of the failure on the part of the political parties to instill in their cadres the importance of serving their constituents?

The answer may lie in our political culture, where politicians crassly perceive politics as being nothing more than the battle to seize power.

And instead of working selflessly for the people they represent, they are asking for an increase in their salaries.

The regional autonomy laws have shifted the power of a regent or mayor to the provincial legislative bodies. Who is going to control the representatives?

This is an increasing important question. Power is shifting from Jakarta to the provinces, where power is dominated by the legislature. The bureaucracy in the province is "controlled" by the legislature and there is no one controlling the legislature.

Worst, the mechanism of "recalling" (firing legislative members by their respective parties) has been abolished. Recalling should serve as a tool for controlling provincial legislatures.

It is true that during the New Order government, this mechanism was abused by political parties which served the government's interests.

I believe the recalling mechanism should be revived although there needs to be a clear criteria to that effect. For example, it can only be applied to charges of corruption or bribery by the concerned legislator.

PDI Perjuangan should seriously consider this issue in its congress. What punishment will it impose on its legislators who abuse their power?

PDI Perjuangan is discussing the possibility of coalescing with the National Awakening Party (PKB). Will this materialize?

I think it will work. The two political parties have something in common -- defining nationalism in Indonesia. Both parties, obviously, have an immense number of supporters.

There are attempts to avoid the dichotomy of Islam and nationalism by describing the character of PKB and Nahdlatul Ulama (Muslim organization whose members make up the good part of PKB supporters) as "religious-nationalism" vis-a-vis PDI- Perjuangan's "secular-nationalism."

The question is whether this is based on a spill-over of the good relations between Gus Dur (President Abdurrahman Wahid, founder of PKB) and Megawati, or an awareness that has risen from the grassroots level.

If it is a spill-over, it will not last, but if it is happening from the bottom up it will only become stronger. If this coalition truly takes place it would be difficult to find a political rival given the coalition's powers.

In what way should the coalition take place?

It does not have to take a concrete form like NU members becoming member of PDI Perjuangan, or PDI Perjuangan members becoming PKB members. This will only create frictions as one will be involved in conflict of interests (in a given political organization).

The coalition should retain its present harmonious relations. For example, the PDI Perjuangan congress preparation being assisted by NU or PKB people and contrariwise.

This could well be enhanced by launching social work projects together or holding intensive dialogs. (Asip A. Hasani)