Multiparty pools offer vast range of choices
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia will formally end the long-established triparty election system once the government-sanctioned verification team, better known as the Team of Eleven, completes its duty in the coming few days.
More than 140 parties have met administrative requirements, but it is expected that only less than one third of them will be eligible for the June 7 polls.
The Jakarta Post lists eight of political parties with a great chance of qualifying and earning the lion's share of votes in the first elections since the fall of New Order regime under Soeharto in May last year.
Partai Keadilan (Justice Party), is an apparently elitist party which brings together Muslim intellectuals. Its existence was declared by 48 people who are widely known as Muslim scholars rather than activists of a political party on Aug. 9, 1998 at the Al Azhar Grand Mosque in South Jakarta.
"We want Islam to become our identity," Dr. Nur Mahmudi Ismail, the party president, said. But the party is open to non- Muslim people, according to him.
The party was set up due to concerns about the lack of justice and moral conduct in the country during the last two regimes.
It aims to struggle for justice and prosperity for all Indonesian citizens, to establish a civil society in which Muslims play the key role, develop professionalism at all levels and contribute to world culture.
Despite the fact that the party chooses Islam as its ideology, Ismail denies that it has set a target of establishing an Islamic country.
Having spread to all provinces but East Timor and Central Kalimantan, the party hopes to win between 10 and 15 percent of votes in the upcoming elections.
Partai Kebangkitan Bangsa (People's Awakening Party) is being touted to restore the past fame of the peasant-oriented Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) as a leading Islamic party in the country. With NU's charismatic leader Abdurrahman Wahid playing the inspirational role, the PKB is expected to emerge as one of the pacemakers in the June elections.
Its chairman, Matori Abdul Djalil, said recently that should the party win the coming polls, it would first of all work on " reconciliation among the nation's various components."
"The nation needs its harmony and unity restored," Matori said, addressing thousands of party sympathizers in a function in Bandarlampung on Feb. 13.
The party was declared open to people of various religious backgrounds and with Abdurrahman's close linkage to Megawati Soekarnoputri, chairwoman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), it has quickly gained popularity particularly among people who are longing for democracy.
PKB has named Abdurrahman, better known as Gus Dur, its presidential candidate. It is expected that the PKB will join forces with the PDI Perjuangan in a bid to complete the sweeping reforms in the country.
PDI for Struggle has proved itself a real political power although it was prevented from contesting the 1997 elections.
With Megawati Soekarnoputri, daughter of Indonesia's founding president Sukarno, at the helm, the party is widely favored to win the most votes in the June elections mainly because it symbolizes the persistent challenge of people who have long suffered from political repression.
Megawati was ousted as PDI chairwoman in a breakaway congress backed by the government in 1996, presumably due to fears that the party had emerged as a serious contender to the ruling party Golkar.
Now taking a raging bull as its new mascot, the party still boasts nationalism as its ideal. A number of retired high ranking military officers and noted scholars have added to its firepower.
The party secretary general, Alex Litaay, said recently it had branch offices in all 27 provinces and 312 districts across the country. Alex estimated the party supporters at 30 million, nine million of whom are registered as members.
Alex said the party would aim to maintain political freedom, establish the rule of law, give extensive autonomy to the provinces, and bring about a fair and prosperous society. It will also campaign for Megawati as president.
Partai Amanat Nasional (National Mandate Party) is tipped as another favorite to win the June elections, thanks in part to its solid think-tank which comprises renowned intellectuals and its energetic and outspoken chairman Amien Rais.
Amien was intensively involved in the May 1998 reform students movement which ousted long-serving president Soeharto. Amien remains a government critic now that the President B.J. Habibie administration looks lethargic in handling Soeharto's alleged corruption.
The party declares itself an open organization, although it is apparent that it expects massive support from Muhammadiyah, a Muslim organization formerly chaired by Amien.
PAN claims itself to be a vanguard of democracy and says it strives for a civil society, which requires, among other things, the eventual elimination of the Armed Forces' (ABRI) sociopolitical roles. Amien demanded that the next House of Representatives allocate 15 seats to ABRI, but to no avail. The new Political Law says ABRI will have 38 House seats, about half of its current share.
The party has nominated Amien its presidential candidate and said it is prepared to form a coalition with other democracy- orientated parties.
Partai Golongan Karya (Golkar) is struggling to make a complete break with the past, but remains upbeat about its chances in the upcoming elections. Having been used as a vehicle by Soeharto to stay in power for three decades, Golkar may avoid an embarrassing defeat thanks to the huge number of parties contesting the polls.
According to political scientist Amien Rais, Golkar will need only to win 20 percent of the votes to stay in power, assuming that the rest of the votes are spread among the welter of rival parties. With an anticipated 10 to 20 parties eligible to contest the elections, no single party is capable of winning a majority of votes.
To woo potential voters, the beleaguered Golkar is pondering making itself an independent, proreform party. Many saw the appointment of respected human rights activist Marzuki Darusman as chairman of the Golkar faction in the People's Consultative Assembly as part of its efforts to maintain the public's faith.
And despite its fast waning popularity, Golkar is financially the strongest with at least Rp 17 billion (US$1.4 million) in its coffers.
Its chairman Akbar Tandjung predicted recently that Golkar would gain 40 percent of votes, despite losing traditional support from civil servants who are now banned from alligning themselves to any political party.
Partai Persatuan Pembangunan (United Development Party) has returned to its old shape as an Islamic party. With many parties choosing Islam as their philosophy, PPP will face an uphill test to maintain its traditional supporters.
Under new chairman Hamzah Haz, who is also Minister of Investment, the party has preserved its status as an "opposition" party.
In the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Special Session in November last year, PPP made a public apology for lacking the guts to oppose the New Order regime. And to make amends for its past mistakes, it pushed for the MPR to pass an exclusive anticorruption ruling which targeted former president Soeharto.
The attempt failed, although the MPR unanimously resolved that Soeharto's alleged wrongdoings during his 32-year reign would not be exempted from the national anticorruption, collusion and nepotism drive.
PPP also reacted strongly to a controversial conversation between President B.J. Habibie and Attorney General Andi M. Ghalib which was leaked to the press. Both men were heard discussing the ongoing probe into Soeharto's alleged corruption, which many viewed as a half-hearted move.
The party's faction at the House of Representatives urged the legislative body to summon the President to clarify the conversation he did not deny, but other factions found it unnecessary.
PPP will continue to campaign for moral values, justice, social welfare and democracy. It expects to win up to 20 percent of votes in the polls.
Partai Bulan Bintang (Crescent Star Party) groups intellectuals who come from 22 Muslim organizations and is predicted to become a dark horse to watch, apart from PAN, in the June elections.
The party constantly appeals for reconciliation among the country's diversified parties in order to put an end to political, religious and racial conflicts that have marked the beginning of the reform era.
Party chairman Yusril Ihza Mahendra, a noted constitutional law professor, unveiled recently that it would target Muslim clerics at pesantren (Islamic boarding schools) as potential voters in the June polls.
PBB, which has already set up chapters in 327 regencies over 27 provinces, also expects to gain support from sympathizers of Masjumi, a leading Muslim party which was banned by president Sukarno in 1960s.
Partai Keadilan and Persatuan (Justice and Unity Party) is built by former Armed Forces and Golkar members who claim to be committed to starting a new life as vanguards of democracy and national unity.
It names former Army chief of staff and minister of defense Edi Sudradjat its initial chairman. Former noted Golkar cadres, including Rachmat Witoelar, Sarwono Kusumaatmadja, Hayono Isman and Siswono Yudohusodo, join the party to add to its firepower.
It remains unclear whether former vice president Try Sutrisno, a close colleague to the party figures. will follow suit.
Edi says the party aims to improve people's welfare by providing more jobs.
As for its presidential candidate, PKP has named Edi its choice. Edi said recently he was prepared to contest the presidency. (team)