Keep national perspective, Moerdiono says

Keep national perspective, Moerdiono says

BUKITTINGGI, West Sumatra (JP): Minister/State Secretary
Moerdiono said yesterday that the government has no objection to
the emergence of new mass organizations, as long as they do not
lead to the disintegration of the nation.

The presence of these new organizations is welcome, but their
founders must always keep nationalism in mind, Moerdiono said in
a discussion about what the national political agenda should be
for the next 50 years.

"Whatever organizations we found, they must never erode our
national perspective," he said. "Let's remember that if the
nation's leaders lose their perspective on the nation, and narrow
this perspective to their own specific sectors, this will be the
beginning of disintegration."

A number of new organizations have been established in
Indonesia in recent months, many proclaiming their intention to
defend the nation from various threats, including external and
internal forces of disintegration.

Some of the leaders of these organizations will have their
first crack at presenting their views to the public during the
two-day seminar here.

One of those already present yesterday was Mrs. Supeni, the
chairperson of Indonesian National Unity. This organization has
been dubbed the "New PNI" because it is seen as a resurrection of
the disbanded Indonesian Nationalist Party (PNI).

Debate

The seminar, jointly organized by the Center for Information
and Development Studies, the West Sumatra Provincial
Administration and Andalas University, brought together some 150
intellectuals, including a number known for their critical stands
towards the government.

During the ensuing debate, Moerdiono qualified his statement
about welcoming new organizations, saying that as far political
organizations are concerned, the law on general elections only
recognizes three contestants.

A.M. Fatwa, a member of the Petisi 50 group, which is highly
critical of the government, argued for at least five political
parties in order to accommodate the interests and aspirations of
all 195 million people in Indonesia.

Moerdiono quickly challenged Fatwa's stance.

"If the three parties were said to have failed in
accommodating the interests of all groups in society, would this
problem be solved by adding the number of parties?" he asked.

He added that the way to solve this problem would be to put
the existing parties in order rather than creating new parties.

In his speech, Moerdiono said Indonesia now lives in an
international system in which states are increasingly open and
interdependent.

Challenges

Given this development, Indonesia is faced with two main
challenges: preserving its unity and strengthening its people to
tap the opportunities presented.

Moerdiono added that although countries are now busy
networking instead of building borders, the nation state is still
the most effective institution in the development of a country.

Indonesia, for example, must prepare itself for the advent of
the free trade era within Southeast Asia, set for 2003, and
within the Asia-Pacific region for 2010 or 2020, he said.

The government's role here is to assist the people in taking
advantage of the opportunities offered. "But rules are needed
like everywhere else," he said.

On the people's political participation, Moerdiono defended
the political concept of "floating mass" in which most of the
people are only politically active during election times.

The few people who are interested in political careers should
join one of the political organizations, he said.

"This is not depoliticizing," he added. The system gives
freedom to citizens to reflect, between elections, on whether the
program of a given party matches their aspirations.

"I think the 'floating mass' term is a modern concept, because
people can switch their loyalty to another party if they are not
satisfied," he said.

Two political scientists, Dewi Fortuna Anwar and Yusril Ihza
Mahendra, presented papers on "people's participation".

Yusril said the new mass organizations that have been formed
in recent months could be viewed as embryos for new political
parties, if one day the law permits more than three political
organizations.

He said that greater participation in political activities by
the public is not likely unless the law on political parties is
changed.

Former minister of environment Emil Salim spoke on sustainable
development during the forum, while Sri Soemantri M, a member of
the National Commission on Human Rights, and a rector at 17
August University, spoke about the development of the law
nationwide. (anr)