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.