Interpreting bloodied fingerprint

Interpreting bloodied fingerprint

From Bali Post

There has been a rather unsympathetic response recently to the fact that members of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) in Surabaya made thumb prints with their own blood. It is always all right to respond to this phenomenon as we are now in the run-up to the 1999 General Session of the People's Consultative Assembly, which is scheduled to elect Indonesia's fourth president in November.

In this context, allow me also to interpret this phenomenon, especially in its inseparable position from present circumstances. Unless this phenomenon is linked with the prevailing condition, it may imply a negative connotation of violence. This phenomenon must be seen in the light of the victory scored by PDI Perjuangan in the recent general election and in the context of efforts to block the nomination of Megawati Soekarnoputri as a presidential candidate. Efforts have been clearly made to reject this nomination on sectarian and divisive grounds and these efforts have won the support of Habibie's camp.

In fact, efforts to block the emergence of Megawati's forces have been in effect since the New Order administration, with its culmination on May 20, 1998. If a present event is linked with this background and is seen in the light of repression during 32 years of New Order administration, the bitterness of being repressed for such a long time is really unimaginable. That's why so much pent-up emotion has found its channel with the victory of Megawati's party in the polls, even though, of course, quite a few are displeased with this victory.

It is clear, then, that members of PDI Perjuangan have made their thumb print with their own blood in anticipation of the emergence of any unconstitutional force, which must be countered with blood in defense of the leader. This blood pledge is just a reaction and not an action that has appeared out of the intrinsic elements of PDI Perjuangan.

If the elections were conducted constitutionally, there would be no such thing as making a thumb print with one's own blood. Megawati, with her charisma, will be able to keep her followers under control within the constitutional corridor and prevent them from resorting to violence.

I GUSTI NGURAH BAGUS

Denpasar, Bali