'New PNI' urged to follow rule of the game

JAKARTA (JP): Political observers warn that although the formation of new mass organizations is justified, the groups should follow the government's rule of the game and avoid posing a threat to the people's unity.

Theo Sambuaga, a legislator representing Golkar, the nation's dominant political grouping, at the House of Representatives, said that he was willing to welcome the recently established organizations "as long as they follow the rules".

Theo told The Jakarta Post via telephone on Saturday that when a leader of a mass organization makes a political statement, it "should reflect the wishes of all of its members".

He was responding to comments on new mass organizations, including Indonesian National Unity, which was established last Thursday.

The group has been dubbed the "new PNI" after the defunct Indonesian Nationalist Party (PNI).

On Friday, the Directorate General of Social and Political Affairs, Soetoyo NK, dismissed the idea that there were any legal problems with the establishment of new organizations. But he warned the new organizations against political activities.

Many "new PNI" leaders, who are mostly over 55 years of age, are former activists of the defunct party.

Indonesian National Unity's newly elected leader, former diplomat Mrs. Supeni, has repeatedly denied that the organization has political motivations.

"We stress national unity," she was quoted by the Suara Pembaruan afternoon daily as saying.

Theo was also responding to a statement by political scientist Maswadi Rauf. Maswadi, who criticized mass organization leaders for making statements that channeled political aspirations through certain parties.

He said that while it is the legal right of members to join any party, it is illegal for leaders to represent members in such statements.

He referred to a clause in the 1985 law on mass organizations, which touches on freedom of association. Maswadi said this implies the independence of organizations.

In Yogyakarta, sociologist Loekman Sutrisno echoed the concern of other observers that the nation was returning to the sectarian politics of the 1950s and 1960s.

He said the activities of the Association of Intellectuals for Pancasila Development, the Indonesian National Unity group and earlier organizations, will lead to disintegration.

The leaders of those groups say they organized out of concern about the various problems facing society, including unhealthy competition in politics.

Although the new leaders have voiced intentions of cooperation, Loekman said "competition between groups will not aim for improving the people's welfare because each will try to play their drums as loud as possible".

His colleague, political scientist Affan Gaffar, said the "new PNI" only reflects "the inability of elderly people to understand that younger people have taken the political stage".

"If they have new ideas they should just channel them through existing groups," Affan said. (har/anr)