'New PNI' urged to follow rule of the game
'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)