Is it possible to found a new party in Indonesia?

Talks about the need for a new political party have again resurfaced recently following the widely publicized congress of the Moslem-oriented United Development Party (PPP). Political scientist Nazaruddin Sjamsuddin argues that there is no need for a new party if it will only serve a few of the elite.

JAKARTA (JP): Having failed to seize the leadership of the United Development Party (PPP) recently, a number of influential kiai (religious leaders) of the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) have said they would turn their organization into a political party. This is an interesting phenomenon although it is not my intention to comment on this particular issue here. Rather, the question I want to comment on concerns the possibility of a new political party being born in Indonesia. Are we permitted to have one, do we need a new political party?

In one of its decrees, the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) specifies that Indonesia shall have three social-political organizations -- one functional grouping (Golongan Karya or Golkar) and two political parties. It is thus obvious that from this point of view any addition to the number of political parties must be preceded by the amendment of the MPR decree in question.

This implies that if the kiai in the NU, or in any other political grouping for that matter, wish to form a new party, such a party cannot be formed forthwith. The reason is that before such a step can be taken a General Session of the People's Consultative Assembly must be called. That again implies that they must wait until March 1998. Beyond this agenda a special session of the MPR must be assembled.

However, do we need a new political party? Before I answer this question it may be appropriate for me to ask the following one: Who would need this new party? This latter question brings us to yet another one: How many more parties do we need?

On the one hand, it should be clear from the aforementioned observations that those who at present aspire for the creation of a new party are politicians who are dissatisfied with our current party system. They are dissatisfied because the prevailing system does not allow them to establish themselves in accordance with their own aspirations.

The kiai of the NU fall into this category of politicians. Aside from them, there are others who are similarly disappointed. A number of these latter politicians have already openly expressed their desire to form a new party. Others, although their ambitions are not openly expressed, are equally ready to form a new party if the opportunity should arise.

It is thus clear that the number of political parties that could be formed is more than one since the politicians who desire a new party would not be able to restrain themselves and form just one. This is due to the prevalence of widely diverging interests among those groups.

On the other hand, it is also quite clear that those who are at present demanding a new party are members of the political elite and their supporters, only. In this case their personal ambitions appear to prevail over their desire to attend to the interests of the people at large. It was in fact precisely this failure to acquire a political forum to serve their ambitions that moved them into demanding a new party. I fear they could be political adventurers, like some others who are to be found in the PPP, Golkar or the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) as well.

From the point of view of the interests of the people at large, especially those living in rural areas, the question of forming a new party is actually not at all that important. Even if a new political party should emerge their fate would probably remain largely unchanged. They would still be in the position of merely serving the political elite and no more.

Of more fundamental concern to the common people is whether their aspirations can be adequately conveyed. If their interests could be genuinely protected, then a new party could hold meaning for them. On the other hand if such a party served only as a vehicle to convey the aspirations and the interests of the elite, all this would bring them no gain whatsoever. It could even be that their fate would be put in the balance as the politicians pursue their own political ambitions.

Personally, I tend to hold the view that it would be better to improve the present party system rather than to demolish it by forming a new party. The idea of a simple system should be maintained, at least until Indonesia's economic basis has become genuinely solid. Moreover, a small number of parties can indeed reduce the chances of political conflict.

Naturally, these arguments are made on the assumption that what we need at present are political organizations that function, inside the House of Representatives (DPR) and outside. If the existing parties, including Golkar, are functioning properly as a means to channel the people's aspirations, then there is no reason for us to form a new party.

Apart from all this, nominations or mutations in the leadership of political organizations should also be carried out openly. Assuredly, this would quell the desire of the political elite to abandon any given party and create one of their own. The question is, is this possible?

The writer is a lecturer in political science at the University of Indonesia.