Megawati forms opposition bloc

Megawati forms opposition bloc

The nation should take serious notice of a statement
attributed recently to the leader of the Indonesian Democratic
Party of Struggle (PDI-P), Megawati Soekarnoputri, that her party
has formally chosen to be an opposition vis-a-vis the government
of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. At the same time she has indicated
she will not tolerate any attempt on the part of the power
holders to interfere in the process suspecting perhaps that Vice
President Jusuf Kalla may also have the ambition to steal the
leadership of the party as he successfully did in the case of the
Golkar Party by getting rid of Akbar Tandjung.

Megawati has rightly pointed out that under a democracy,
opposition activities, as a means of exercising control over the
executive branch of the government, should be allowed to
flourish. As we know, Megawati has criticized the government's
handling of the seemingly slow pace of the tsunami recovery
program in the aid distribution. Of course,
this should be seen as a warning that no abuse of domestic and
foreign assistance funds shall be tolerated.

As a staunch defender of the unitary state of Indonesia, it
will come as no surprise if Megawati or her party oppose in
principle the planned resumption of peace negotiations with the
Free Aceh Movement (GAM).

Personally, I consider the presence of an opposition grouping
essential, if only for providing alternative solution to balance
the official view, essential if democracy is to thrive given the
lame role played by the legislative councils especially, the
House of Representatives.

Meanwhile, available funds and energy at the disposal of the
government must not only be entirely distributed to the tsunami
stricken areas resulting in the neglect of outer backward parts
of the country where bridges, roads, railways, water and
electricity networks are in need of repair as well.

So the government under Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Jusuf
Kalla must focus fully on the rehabilitation of Aceh as well as
on other parts of the country in East Indonesia.

GANDHI SUKARDI, Jakarta