Observers set up new political party to net upset voters

Observers set up new political party to net upset voters

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

In a move to net potential voters who have been disappointed with
the performances of existing political parties represented in the
country's supreme law-making body, the People's Consultative
Assembly (MPR), two noted political observers declared a new
party on Sunday.

Andi Mallarangeng and Ryaas Rasyid announced the establishment
of the Unity, Democracy and Nationhood Party (PPDK) before
hundreds of guests, marking their move from political observers
to political players.

"PPDK will be an open party for people from all walks of
life," Andi said as quoted by Antara during the declaration
ceremony, which was also attended by Coordinating Minister for
Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

He underlined that the new party would be free of racial,
religious, and ideology sentiments, and would provide room for
all ideas to grow within the party.

As the 2004 general election draws nearer, a glut of new
political parties have emerged which analysts have said reflects
disappointment with existing political parties.

According to data from the Ministry of Justice and Human
Rights, there are around 180 registered political parties
expecting to contest the 2004 general election.

The birth of these new parties were mostly initiated by noted
analysts, who have a long list of achievements, including
academically.

Last week, Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
Perjuangan) defector Eros Djarot launched the Bung Karno
Nationalist Party (PNBK), referring to founding president
Sukarno.

Earlier this year, another PDI Perjuangan rebel, Dimyati
Hartono, an expert in the legal field, established the Indonesian
Motherland Party (PITA).

Noted economist Sjahrir is also expected to declare the New
Indonesia Party (PIB) in the next few months.

However, the draft law on political parties has a set series
of rules that may kill off the parties before they begin to grow.

A bill under discussion by the House of Representatives,
stipulates that a party must have branches in at least 20 of the
30 provinces to contest the election.

The parties also must have executive boards in 66 percent of
the regencies or cities in a province.

Analysts have warned that the emergence of new parties may
confuse the people as what had happened in 1999 when 48 parties
contested the election.

Andi said the PPDK was expected to seize the moment of the
implementation of regional autonomy, offering its potential
voters nationwide special attention to the decentralization
program and public services.

Both Andi and Ryaas were architects of Regional Autonomy Law
No. 22/1999 and stood at the forefront of the law's
implementation in 2000.

Ryaas, a bureaucrat who started his career as deputy district
chief of Mariso in South Sulawesi in 1972, served as the state
minister of regional autonomy under the presidency of Abdurrahman
Wahid.