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