Not all new political parties will be allowed: Syarwan

JAKARTA (JP): The first indication of possible limitations on political parties began to emerge yesterday when Minister of Home Affairs Syarwan Hamid said that not all recently established or registered political parties would be allowed to continue to exist.

He pointed out that the numerous parties which had sprung up in the past two months would have to conform to certain conditions set by a law which is currently being drafted.

"At the moment we haven't banned any, but later they will be selected in accordance to the regulations which apply," Syarwan said in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara, at the swearing in ceremony of Piet Tallo as the province's governor.

He said one condition that had been agreed on was that a party must be open to all and not be exclusively geared toward a particular group.

He pointed out that parties which were exclusively for women, ethnic Chinese or related to ethnic, religious or societal groups or tribal affiliations, often referred to under the Indonesian acronym of SARA, would not be tolerated.

"We are not starting from zero. We already have the experience and must avoid SARA issues," he said as quoted by Antara.

The government is currently drafting three political laws -- on political parties, elections and one on the structure and role of the House of Representatives and the People's Consultative Assembly -- which are expected to be forwarded to the House by the end of this month or early next month.

"With these revisions we hope to be able to develop a strong civil society by 2000," Syarwan remarked.

He added that the government was also preparing bills on freedom of association, consumer protection and banking. (mds)