New groups spark fears of sectarianism

New groups spark fears of sectarianism

JAKARTA (JP): Political scientists say Indonesian politics
today rests on four pillars: President Soeharto, the Armed
Forces, the business conglomerates and the Association of
Indonesian Moslem Intellectuals (ICMI).

There can be no question as to the validity of the assumption
regarding the first three pillars.

Debate is possible about the fourth pillar, but it's clear
that 1995 has been the year of mass organizations, both "old"
ones such as the increasingly influential ICMI, and newly-
established ones such as the National Brotherhood Foundation
(YKPK), the Association of Intellectuals for Pancasila
Development (PCPP), Indonesian Christian Participation
(Parkindo), Indonesian National Unity and Masyumi.

Observers and officials have been concerned about growing
"sectarianism", spurred by ICMI, which they say could harm
national unity.

The ICMI, led by State Minister of Research and Technology
B.J. Habibie, has spread its activities to both political and
non-political spheres of life.

It was anxiety about sectarianism that reportedly led some of
the nation's most high-profile figures to attempt to "balance
out" ICMI's growing political clout by establishing the new
organizations.

In October, 67 influential public figures established the
YKPK, reportedly in an effort to save the nation from the
polarizing effects of certain social developments. Lt. Gen.
(ret.) Bambang Triantoro, a former military chief of social and
political affairs, was appointed chairman.

Other figures in the foundation include former House Speaker
Kharis Suhud, Moslem leader Dahlan Ranuwihardjo and former
Catholic party leader Frans Seda.

Also in October, the group Indonesian National Unity (PNI) was
born. The acronym of the new organization is identical with that
of the socialist-nationalist Partai Nasional Indonesia,
established in 1946, which was later merged with other political
parties to form the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) in 1973.

Former diplomat Supeni was elected chairwoman of the new PNI,
while her five deputies include Djathi Koesoemo, a PDI
legislator. Government officials expressed qualified support for
the new group.

"The PNI will strive to strengthen nationalism," Supeni said.
"We want to establish unity and to cooperate with various groups,
as long as they are based on the state ideology Pancasila."

Other figures involved in the new PNI are Usep Ranuwijaya, a
professor at the private 17 August University, and Berar Fathia,
who made headlines in 1992 when she announced herself a candidate
for the presidential election of that year.

In late July, a new organization of intellectuals, the PCPP,
was launched. Founder Rubijanto Misman said the organization was
"open and non-political" and that its membership would not be
based on ethnicity or religion.

Parkindo, (Paticipasi Kristen Indonesia) bears the same
abbreviated name as the now defunct Indonesian Christian Party
(also Parkindo). Established two years ago, the new Parkindo was
only registered with the Ministry of Home Affairs in February.
The old Parkindo was merged with other parties to form the PDI in
1973.

Parkindo is chaired by legislator Sabam Sirait. The
organization went ahead with its first congress late this year,
in spite of a clear lack of support from government officials and
the PDI leadership.

The newest addition to Indonesia's list of mass organizations
is the Moslem-based Masyumi. Founder Ridwan Saidi announced from
the outset that one of the organization's goals was to become a
political party some day.

Masyumi stands for Majelis Syarikat Ummat Muslimin Indonesia.
The abbreviated title is the same as that of a leading Moslem
political party of the 1950s, dissolved in 1960, called Majelis
Syuro Muslimin Indonesia. (swe)