Observers call for govt role in PDI reunification
SEMARANG (JP): Two leading observers called yesterday for government arbitration if rival factions within the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) agree to discuss much-awaited reconciliation.
The rector of Diponegoro University, Muladi, suggested that the government mediate because it is the patron of domestic political affairs.
"The government is obligated to step in because conflict- ridden PDI plays havoc to political stability nationwide. However, it should refrain from meddling in the party's internal affairs," Muladi said.
He said, as the patron of the country's political organizations, the government could not play a hands-off approach to any problems disrupting a political party.
The call for reconciliation in PDI grows as the minority party licks its wounds after it suffered poor results in the May 29 general election. A few weeks ago, government-sanctioned PDI under Soerjadi offered its rival faction, led by Megawati Soekarnoputri, a dialog which may lead to reunification.
Soerjadi was reinstated as the party's leader in place of Megawati in a government-backed breakaway congress in June last year. Following the congress, the government declared it only recognized PDI under Soerjadi.
Minister of Home Affairs Moch. Yogie S.M. dismissed over the weekend the possibility of the government's participation in the proposed dialog, apparently to avoid being viewed as recognizing Megawati's faction.
A political observer from Diponegoro University, Soehardjo, shared Muladi's view, saying the government should prove that the political system it adopted could help PDI empower itself.
"The government has always claimed that the current political system is the best. Therefore the system should bring about a healthy PDI, as well as Golkar and the United Development Party," Soehardjo said.
Muladi said the dialog, if agreed upon, should occur after the general session of the People's Consultative Assembly in March next year.
Award
Meanwhile in Jakarta, a team of lawyers of the Megawati-led PDI faction named yesterday former justice Adi Andojo Soetjipto as the first recipient of the Sahardjo Award for his campaign for clean law enforcement in the country.
The award is named after the late Dr. Sahardjo, a national hero known for his campaign for the promotion of human rights in the legal system.
Kastorius Sinaga, a member of a team of five that conducted the selection, said Adi edged out 41 contenders who were made up of legal activists, bureaucrats or former bureaucrats, intellectuals and common people.
The selection committee short-listed the nominees to only six, Kastorius said, and after a "long and intense debate" unanimously voted for Adi.
Adi is scheduled to receive the award when the team of lawyers celebrates their first anniversary on Aug. 26.
Kastorius, a postgraduate lecturer at the state-run University of Indonesia, declined to identify the other five people joining Adi in the final selection.
"This is not a competition. We think that revealing names will adversely affect our campaign for just law enforcement," Kastorius said.
The selection committee appraised the nominees on their persistent struggle for law enforcement, their devotion to public welfare rather than personal or group interests and the effects of their struggle.
Another selection committee member, Tumbu Saraswati, denied that Adi's selection indicated that Indonesia fell short of figureheads in law enforcement. "Adi is an outstanding character who has been widely praised by the public," she said.
Adi, who retired last May, made headlines with his accusation of widespread collusion within the Supreme Court and with his ruling to exonerate labor leader Muchtar Pakpahan from subversion charges. He also ruled in favor of the defendants in the murder case of labor activist Marsinah. (har/amd)