Indonesia lacks statesman, says political observer
A'an Suryana and Sri Wahyuni, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The stubborn resistance by party leaders holding public offices to hang up one of their hats was a clear sign that too many of the country's leaders were selfish and uninterested in the well- being of the country as a whole, according to one academic.
Political observer from the Yogyakarta-based Gadjah Mada University (UGM) Riswandha Imawan said on Wednesday that judging by their resistance to give up one of their posts, none of the country's political leaders were truly statesmen.
"A statesman always considers how he or she can utilize their position for the wider public interest, and a politician merely pursues power for their own short-term interests," he said.
"In the dual position controversy, the country's political leaders are yet to achieve statesman status," Riswandha told The Jakarta Post.
Pressures have mounted for party leaders holding public offices to quit one of their posts to avoid conflicts of interest, but they have all refused to do so.
Political observers have pointed out at least two important reasons why party leaders should avoid double positions. First is that dual positions made it extremely difficult for the leaders to spare their time for both party and public affairs, and also because it offers an opportunity for political leaders to abuse their powers in favor of party and personal interests.
Party leaders holding public offices include President Megawati Soekarnoputri, who is also chairperson of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan); Vice President Hamzah Haz, chairman of the Muslim-based United Development Party (PPP); Justice and Human Rights Minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra, chairman of the Crescent and Star Party (PBB); House Speaker Akbar Tandjung, chairman of Golkar; and People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Speaker Amien Rais, chairman of the National Mandate Party (PAN).
Reasons given by party leaders for resisting public pressure to quit included their strong conviction that they were able to distinguish between public and private interests, and that they had pledged not to abuse their power.
Megawati said last Sunday that she would be violating the party's constitution if she resigned as party chairperson since she was formally and constitutionally elected by the party's congress.
Amien initially wanted to set the tone by offering to resign as chairman of PAN, but strong resistance from within his own party prompted him to abandon the plan.
Amien's colleagues in the party blocked his will to quit the chairmanship during the party's recent national meeting on the grounds that "the party is still too young to be abandoned by Amien."
According to Riswanda, the dual position controversy suggested that the leaders were still intent on pursuing their private ambitions and interests, while disregarding the greater public good.
Had the political leaders been true statesman, they would have chosen to either serve the public or serve their party, he added.
Another political observer from UGM Affan Gafar said that there were at least two reasons why the political leaders remain defiant to stay on as party chiefs.
First, they were afraid of losing control over the party's decision to select party members in the House of Representatives (DPR) which still remains the sole prerogative of the party chairpersons.
"And secondly, there will be no guarantee that the political leaders will be the parties' presidential candidates for the 2004 elections, should they quit the top party posts," he said.