Minority parties voice growing frustration

Minority parties voice growing frustration

YOGYAKARTA (JP): The massive rallies held over the weekend by
minority party supporters indicates a growing frustration with
the ruling Golkar organization's political maneuvering, political
observer Riswanda Imawan said yesterday.

The lecturer at Gadjah Mada University's School of Social and
Political Sciences said that the masses are "tired of keeping
their mouths shut in the face of (Golkar chairman) Harmoko's
maneuvers".

"The political elite has underestimated the public's wisdom,"
he said. "The political elite has been taking the public's
silence as a sign of helplessness...this is what prompted (the
minority party supporters) to hold their rallies."

Around 10,000 supporters of the Moslem-based United
Development Party (PPP) gathered on Sunday to celebrate the
party's 23rd anniversary, and later held a procession on
motorcycles and other vehicles around the city. Hundreds of
activists of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) followed suit.

Yogyakarta military district chief Lt. Col. Sukedi told The
Jakarta Post that one person was injured and a house was
destroyed when the procession turned violent. The authorities
have detained three people for questioning.

Riswandha said the rallies were "the proper response" to the
similar gatherings held by Golkar over the past several years,
which, some observers say, smack of electioneering. Golkar
executives deny the charges, referring to their gatherings as
"meetings of cadres".

By law, campaign rallies are only allowed to be held several
weeks before the election date.

"The PPP and PDI rallies on Sunday indicate that the public
has become more critical," Riswandha said. "Now, if the
government and Golkar condemn or try to forbid the PPP and PDI
supporters (from holding such rallies again), there will be a
counteraction to Harmoko's political maneuvering."

Alfian Darmawan, chief of the PPP's local chapter, agreed with
Riswandha. He said the PPP rallies were held "spontaneously" as a
response toward Golkar's early electioneering.

"The PPP central executive board did not instruct the
supporters to hold a procession. It was spontaneous," he said.
"Golkar has been doing exactly the same thing on a national
scale."

"This is a form of public protest of the unfair political
practices here," explained Alfian, who is also a lecturer at
Muhammadiyah Moslem University.

"The supporters of PPP and PDI have started to realize that
they have been placed on the sidelines," he said. "They have not
had the opportunity to voice their political aspiration, while
Golkar clearly monopolizes the political scene."

Riswandha called on the government to deal with issue in order
to prevent conflicts. "It would be wise for the government to let
the PPP and PDI supporters (hold their rallies)," he said.
(02/har/swe)