Pakpahan launches critical book
JAKARTA (JP): The recently-freed leader of an independent trade union, Muchtar Pakpahan, called on the Armed Forces (ABRI) to take a neutral stance and withdraw its support for the ruling political grouping Golkar.
"All this time, ABRI has not been neutral and in fact 'has played a part' through its concept of social and political roles, and even joined one political grouping, Golkar," Pakpahan said during the launching of his book, A Portrait of the State of Indonesia, on Friday.
During the modest ceremony at the SBSI trade union headquarters, Pakpahan critically discussed a wide range of social and political issues. He also called for the lifting of restrictions on the number of political parties in the country.
"I suggest that we allow the people to decide which political parties have the right to survive," Pakpahan said.
By law, the state recognizes only three political parties -- the ruling Golkar, the Moslem-oriented United Development Party (PPP) and the Christian-nationalist alliance, the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI).
The three parties were the result of the fusion of many parties prior to the 1975 law on political parties.
Pakpahan suggested in his book that anybody could set up political parties but only the two largest winners in elections should be allowed to be represented in the legislative body. The others should then choose to join one of the two winners by forming coalitions.
In the 129-page book, Pakpahan also criticized the presidential appointment of 75 of the 500 member parliament and half of the 1,000 member People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), the highest legislative body.
The president appoints 75 military members to sit in the parliament. The military do not vote in elections.
Pakpahan, who is a lawyer by training and who received his doctoral degree in 1993 at the University of Indonesia's Law School, also criticizes Indonesia's legal system and the lack of press freedom in his book.
His mentor, Prof. H.R. Sri Soemantri, said in the book's introduction that from a scientific point of view, the book has various weaknesses and shortcomings.
"The book's content reflects the character of the writer as an activist, even as chairman of the SBSI trade union," Soemantri said. "I don't always agree with all of his views written in this book."
However, the public should read it with an open mind regarding the writer's opinions and views, Soemantri said.
Pakpahan said the book's rough draft was written during his nine months of detention in Medan, North Sumatra. He was imprisoned for three years by the Medan court in November 1994 for inciting mass labor unrests there in April 1994.
An appeals court extended the sentence in January by another year, after which Pakpahan appealed to the Supreme Court.
The government, which does not recognize SBSI, blamed the week-long labor unrest in Medan in April last year on the independent union. The demonstration later degenerated into anti- ethnic Chinese rioting that led to one death and the destruction of private property.
Pakpahan was temporarily freed from prison pending the Supreme Court's decision on his appeal. His sentencing incited harsh reactions from several western countries. (swe)