More NGOs warn of political chaos
More NGOs warn of political chaos
JAKARTA (JP): Nine more non-governmental organizations warned
yesterday of commonplace political violence, social injustice and
abuse of power in the bureaucracy.
They expressed worries in a petition that the power holders
were moving away from the ideals as established by Indonesia's
founding fathers and from the materialization of popular
sovereignty.
The statement was made by leaders of the Indonesian National
Unity organization, New Masyumi, Parkindo, Petisi 50, Forum for
Restoration of People's Sovereignty, Young Indonesia
organization, Marhaen People's Movement, Forum Perjuangan 1 Juni
1945 and Indonesian Prosperous Labor Union.
Among the signatories were Ali Sadikin, a government critic;
Sukmawati, daughter of the late President Sukarno; Umar Tosin
from the New Masyumi; and Abdul Madjid from the Indonesian
Democratic Party.
Senior journalist Sutan Ali Asli, the spokesman for the
petitioners, said the petition will be submitted to President
Soeharto, Speaker of the House of Representatives Wahono and
other senior officials.
Reading the statement, Sutan Ali said the organizations are
worried about the increasing use of "naked power" to handle state
problems.
He pointed at the government's move to intervene in the
prolonged leadership struggle within the Indonesian Democratic
Party (PDI) by endorsing a rebel congress and acknowledging the
results of the unconstitutional forum.
"People who love democracy, maintain moral standards and
uphold the constitution will certainly reject the action to grab
the party leadership," he said.
Last month at the government-backed congress in Medan, North
Sumatra, Soerjadi was elected the new PDI chairman, replacing the
democratically elected Megawati Soekarnoputri.
On Thursday, a group of intellectuals and political activists
signed a petition, expressing fear of what they viewed as
increasing cases of political violence and repression of
democracy.
Among the signatories to Thursday's petition were Abdurrahman
Wahid, chief of the 30-million-strong Nahdlatul Ulama; Lt. Gen.
(ret.) Bambang Triantoro, a former chief the Armed Forces'
sociopolitical affairs; and Lt. Gen. (ret.) M. Kharis Suhud, a
former House speaker.
The nine organizations that drafted the petition called for
better adherence to the 1945 Constitution.
Sutan Ali said that the number of terms a president may serve
has to be limited, cabinet ministerial posts should be opened to
people from different political groups and natural resources
vital for the public should be controlled by the state.
The nine organizations also called for "national dialogs" to
review current state affairs and discuss future strategies.
(imn/pan)