Observer says PDI could be big winner in 1997

Observer says PDI could be big winner in 1997

By Santi W.E. Soekanto

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) celebrates its' 23rd anniversary today in Ambon, Maluku, as it faces various hurdles for the 1997 general elections.

An observer believes that chairperson Megawati Soekarnoputri, with her seemingly docile and quiet leadership, may actually lead her party to win more votes in the elections.

Various factors, particularly the governments' perceived meddling in PDI's affairs, seem to be working for the party, according to Aribowo, a lecturer at the Airlangga University's School of Social and Political Sciences in Surabaya.

"There's a possibility that PDI may even replace the United Development Party as the second runner," Aribowo said.

Amir Santoso of the University of Indonesia in Depok, West Java, however, had only criticism for Megawati's leadership. The eldest daughter of the late first president Sukarno, was "stubborn" and "rigid" in her dealing with the government, he said.

"She's not a capable leader," he said. "And her stubbornness is encouraged by people around her who are more emotional than rational."

Unless Megawati changes her ways and deals with the numerous internal conflicts more effectively, the party may suffer in the 1997 elections, he said.

"The public is getting bored with all those conflicts in the PDI," Amir said.

PDI was born in 1973 out of a merger of five former nationalist and Christian political parties -- the Indonesian Nationalist Party (PNI), the Murba Party, the Independence Vanguard Party (IPKI), the Indonesian Catholic Party and the Christian Party.

Among the most urgent tasks it is facing now is finding solutions to protracted internal conflicts, especially in regards with the rival leadership in the East Java chapter.

Another, no-less difficult problem to handle is what some analysts described as the government's meddling in its affairs, to check its growth so that it won't grow bigger than the ruling Golkar.

An example of the latest problem is the series of bans imposed on chairperson Megawati Soekarnoputri and the other party executives when they tried to hold meetings with supporters in many regions.

The rumors about some party leaders' past communist links and the establishment of a rival executive board led by Jusuf Merukh were other examples of the problems PDI has dealt with in the past few years.

In the face of such adversity, Megawati reacted in the laid- back style which seems to be characteristically hers. "I would never engage in polemics with the government," she said, on one of the rare occasions when she was willing to speak to reporters. "I still show the government respect."

It's her quiet, low-profile leadership that has lately been questioned by some people, especially in regard whether it will be effective enough to help the party face the 1997 competition.

Aribowo pointed out that Indonesia is a country of authoritarian bureaucracy. The state has been acting also as actor of the political game, mobilizing both private and state institutions to produce a "hegemonic ideology".

In this situation, the existing three political parties--Golkar, the Moslem-based PPP and the nationalist PDI--become subordinates of the state, he said.

For the past several years, however, PDI has been struggling to put distance between itself and the state and trying to assert its' independence, he said.

This chimes with the views of some layers of society who have become increasingly aware of the "gaps between the ideals and the reality" in social political life.

"Frustrated people tend to become more critical, withdraw their support from the power holders, and seek alternatives," he said. "PDI promises that kind of alternative in a way that PPP hasn't been able to".

Megawati's respectful, calm and seemingly docile style has made for effective leadership, after all, he said.

After criticizing Megawati's leadership, Amir reminded her to resolve party's internal conflicts as soon as possible, before they grow out of control and ruin the party's chances in the general elections.

"Those prolonged conflicts only betray the immaturity of PDI in handling its' affairs," he said. "And Megawati should be more flexible, broaden her horizons, in dealing with those conflicts." (swe)