Indonesian Axis to be launched
Indonesian Axis to be launched
JAKARTA (JP): The "Indonesian Axis" (Poros Indonesia) is set
to burst onto the political scene, bringing together a cross
section of figures from various political backgrounds who want to
improve the state of their respective parties.
However, founders of the Indonesian Axis, who are primarily
members of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
Perjuangan), maintain that their grouping is merely a vehicle to
facilitate people's empowerment.
They stress that they are not a splinter of their respective
parties and remain loyal to them.
The grouping is due to be officially launched on Monday
evening with PDI Perjuangan's Eros Jarot as chairman.
"This is not a political organization. We are going to
concentrate on empowering the people in economic, social,
cultural and political life," Eros told journalists on Sunday.
He said the grouping was the brainchild of several PDI
Perjuangan members, such as Zulvan Lidan, Haryanto Taslam,
Mochtar Buchori and Laksamana Sukardi.
In its evolution, however, it has brought together figures
from various backgrounds, such as Golkar Party's Ade Komaruddin
and Syafri Hutahuruk; National Mandate Party's Bara Hasibuan and
Faisal Basri; along with National Awakening Party's Aris Azhari
Siagian.
Researchers and activists, such as Anggito Abimanyu, Bambang
Widjojanto and Muchammad Ikhsan, are also noted as members.
Some have noted the significance of the grouping as comprising
individuals who have been sidelined from parties to form a
splinter group of major political parties, particularly PDI
Perjuangan.
However, Eros maintains that it was born not out of
"disappointment" but of a desire to bridge the widening gap
between political parties and their grass roots constituents who
were neglected after last year's general election.
"We feel political parties need assistance to empower their
supporters. We are just a group of people with the consciousness
to help realize people's expectations, as promised by political
parties during the campaign," Eros remarked.
He further said political parties have become increasingly
unstable and remain immature despite their wide support and
ascension to power.
Eros said a "support group" was needed to enhance these
parties' visions and abilities to be more useful to the general
public.
Despite Eros' assertions, it is an undeniable fact that the
Indonesian Axis came to be only after the March PDI Perjuangan
congress which reelected Megawati Soekarnoputri as chairperson.
There were strong efforts to foil any contenders, including
Eros. Many noted PDI Perjuangan figures in the past have also
been sidelined in the new central board.
It has also led to speculation that the Indonesian Axis is a
vehicle for Eros and other PDI Perjuangan members to regain their
political leverage.
Eros underlined on Sunday that the grouping has no intention
of being a new political power and that any politician joining
must be committed to removing their respective party attributes
during the grouping's work and make it their main priority.
"We would like to be Indonesian people first and then be
members of political parties," he asserted.
Haryanto Taslam, a former PDI Perjuangan secretary-general,
also denied suggestions that the grouping was formed out of
bitterness.
He claimed that the initial idea to form the organization was
conceived before the congress, and that the Indonesian Axis and
PDI Perjuangan would never clash head on.
"We work in different fields and we are going to be the
interlocutor for political parties to reach the people. We are
not in the practical political field," Haryanto asserted.
The group said it is was targeting the middle class as its
support base because this remained an extremely potential yet
untapped, and often forgotten, public force.
Separately, PDI Perjuangan's faction secretary at the People's
Consultative Assembly, Heri Akhmadi, seemed nonplused by the new
grouping.
He "welcomed" it and expressed hope that it could be
complementary and improve the party's human resources.
"We realize our weakness in human resources, so we hope the
presence of such a group will educate our supporters," Heri told
The Jakarta Post on Sunday.
His comment was mild in comparison to a statement made by PDI
Perjuangan deputy chairman Theo Syafei several weeks earlier,
threatening axis members with possible expulsion.
Indonesian Axis' members said their first endeavor would be to
focus on improving the welfare of farmers in five areas selected
as pilot projects.
"We cannot mention the names of the areas because we want to
keep a low profile to anticipate the politization of these
projects, but we will report to the public on them later on,"
Eros said.
The axis already boasts to having five branch offices: Central
and South Sulawesi, South Kalimantan, Lampung and Jakarta. (dja)