More realistic stance toward past wrongdoings needed

Forming a strong coalition to sustain the government until 2004 should be the main agenda of this week's scheduled meeting among political party leaders, says political science lecturer Pratikno from the Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta.

Question: What should be achieved in the meeting among political party leaders scheduled this week?

Answer: As the biggest political party, I hope the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) will take the initiative of setting up a strong coalition to sustain the government until 2004. This could be a solution to weak government.

Even if Gus Dur (President Abdurrahman Wahid) resigns and Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri takes over the presidency, her government still needs a strong coalition that would guarantee political parties' consistency in supporting the government.

We should derive a lesson from Gus Dur's election as President, after which he was betrayed by the axis force (the loose coalition of Islamic parties).

But before offering such a coalition, PDI Perjuangan should ensure that an agreement (outlining power sharing arrangements) has been reached between Megawati and the President.

Megawati should actively convince Gus Dur that there are now only two options available to him: that he resign or that he remain a President without authority to govern.

Without an agenda (of a coalition agreement), the meeting (among political party leaders) will be useless.

Q: What kind of coalition proposal should be introduced by PDI Perjuangan to other political parties?

A: The proposal should contain important agenda items that the administration, possibly under Vice President Megawati, would run until 2004. And the most important thing is that it also includes a clear stance by the administration on human rights violations, corruption cases and any other wrongdoing committed in the past.

One of the mistakes of Gus Dur's administration is its stance against the past, which has made the old players become too reactive and defensive because they feel insecure.

Megawati should learn to be more realistic. There are too many players in the country's economic and political arena who could be involved in past wrongdoings, therefore we can't treat them as enemies. The coalition agreement should contain a spirit of reconciliation with the past.

We have to retreat several steps from Gus Dur's expectations in dealing with the past, for no matter how dark their record in the past, the old players remain strong now.

Q: Which political parties would join the coalition?

A: PDI Perjuangan should retain Gus Dur's National Awakening Party (PKB) in the coalition because it is the party which is most free from past mistakes. The other members of the coalition could be any political parties which agree with the coalition agreement offered by PDI Perjuangan.

Q: What scenarios lie ahead?

A: From a pragmatic point of view, Gus Dur's early resignation would help Megawati form and run an effective government, but this could be a mistake if Gus Dur's supporters become angry over his resignation. Therefore, Gus Dur should remain President without the authority over daily policy making, which would be taken over by Megawati. Gus Dur's presidency would only be symbolic, which could lessen his supporters' discontent.

It would be the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR)'s role to provide such a political settlement with a legal basis, in the form of an MPR decree. A presidential decree would not be adequate because the decree must also stipulate the Vice President's obligation to accept responsibility for all government policies during her term, while the President would be free from such a responsibility because he would no longer have the right to influence the policy making process.

Q: But President Abdurrahman has so far not been willing to hand over such authority...

A: This is the best option for him instead of either being impeached or retaining his post and causing the country to collapse. Megawati and people around him, particularly from Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and PKB, should convince him of this. Gus Dur must agree with the idea, it is only a matter of time. The sooner he bows to the compromise the better.

PDI Perjuangan supporters at the grass roots level, the abangan people (considered casual regarding religion), have started a new phase of relations with President Abdurrahman supporters, the rural (pious) santri who are NU followers. This started several years ago as a result of the good relationship between Megawati and Abdurrahman. The two groups' future relations depend on the future relationship between these two leaders.

Q: What do you suggest?

A: The two groups (of supporters) are those mainly referred to when politicians speak of "the people". Ironically, they have been marginalized for years. Therefore, it would be terrible if the two fight each other. Many young figures and politicians in NU and PKB, such as Ali Masykur Musa, are likely to understand what is needed to maintain good relations between the two groups of supporters.

Even (NU chairman) Hasyim Muzadi is a good leader who can maintain independence, despite the fact that NU's most popular figure, Gus Dur, is now the center of state (power).

Regarding PDI Perjuangan's supporters, Megawati remains the only hope to keep her loyal supporters under control. She will surely do everything possible to prevent her supporters from conflicting with those of Gus Dur. However, leaders of the two groups should maintain vigilance over any developments at the grass roots level. In this case, the media also plays an important role in conveying proper information to the public. (Asip A. Hasani)