PAN weighs pluses and minuses of coalition allies

JAKARTA (JP): Amien Rais is in a quandary over which parties his reformist National Mandate Party (PAN) may eventually join in a coalition. He fears the party could be overshadowed in a tie-up either with Golkar or the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan).

"We are facing a dilemma here," Amien told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday. "If we form a coalition with PDI Perjuangan and become its junior partner in the administration, many of our ideas would be trampled upon.

"On the other hand, if we join Golkar, then we'd drown and there'd be no future for the reform movement."

Golkar chairman Akbar Tandjung earlier offered Amien the possibility of a coalition and even the presidential candidacy. Observers believe Amien's presence in any party, especially Golkar, would lend credibility because of his role in the reform movement.

Amien turned down the offer on the grounds it would be a betrayal of his principles and integrity. Sources said Amien also met with President B.J. Habibie last Thursday, but there were no details available from the meeting.

When others suggested that he instead join forces with the Megawati Soekarnoputri-led PDI Perjuangan, Amien said it could be done under on particular conditions, including that Megawati start campaigning against the military's political role and for the amendment of the 1945 Constitution.

Megawati, despite her huge popularity among reform elements, remains conservative in her ideas about the military's involvement in politics and about the 1945 Constitution, which her father, the late founding president Sukarno, helped to form.

Amien said there was no word from Megawati's camp on his overture.

"Her response? Nothing. Maybe PDI Perjuangan is still very confident (that it does not need PAN)," he said.

"Now I am studying possibilities. I am trying to see what options would still be available after the final vote count is announced, what political configuration would emerge. Then we'll decide."

PAN leaders are scheduled to hold a plenary meeting Tuesday evening.

Given the attendant pitfalls, Amien said "the safest bet would be to really work at the legislature and push for reform there through appropriate legislation".

Amien predicted his party would gain up to 44 seats in the 500-member House of Representatives.

"When they are in the legislative body, PAN members will push for the abolition of the military's sociopolitical role, for the amendment of the Constitution, for the fight against corruption, collusion and nepotism.

"We also will fight for wide-ranging autonomy for regions, for freedom of speech, freedom of the press..." he said, adding that PAN leaders have embarked on a consolidation process.

PAN's ranks have sometimes been threatened with division when party leaders made conflicting statements. Two of its leaders, A.M. Fatwa and Soewarno Adiwidjojo, for instance, have expressed their wish for a coalition with Golkar.

On Sunday, Amien told the Post that despite obtaining only approximately 10 percent of the vote, PAN remained a party which held the balance in the coming political configuration, especially if there was a deadlock, as many expected, in the presidential election.

"Despite our dismal gains, PAN is still a quality party," he said. "Should there really be deadlock in the establishment of the new government, then PAN will use its trump card in order to ensure the continuation of reform agenda.

"Reform has so far yielded preliminary results, namely the toppling of Soeharto and the restoration of people's political rights and a more democratic atmosphere in our nation's life," he said in Yogyakarta.

"It seems to me PAN is the most eager to bring Soeharto to justice, while other parties keep silent."

Amien also lashed out at the General Elections Commission (KPU) for the sluggish pace of its vote counting and an apparent "bias" in its announcements. Amien also expressed suspicions of vote-rigging.

The commission has made it "as if PDI Perjuangan has won an absolute victory, followed by the National Awakening Party (PKB), while the other parties get nothing"

"In actuality, the situation is not that bad. (According to our calculation), Golkar prevails over PKB, while the United Development Party may have won even more seats from PKB.

"And PAN has not performed that poorly as the KPU has made out," he said.

PKB

Meanwhile, leaders of other major political parties are also busy making deals.

Executives of the National Awakening Party (PKB) plan to meet with leaders of the National Mandate Party (PAN) and the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan).

The deputy chairman of PKB, Alwi Shihab, said on Tuesday PKB chairman Matori Abdul Jalil and secretary-general Muhaimin Iskandar would meet in a few day with their counterparts Amien Rais and Faisal Basri of PAN and Megawati Soekarnoputri and Alexander Litaay of PDI Perjuangan to discuss a possible coalition.

In preliminary elections results released by the General Elections Commission, PDI Perjuangan remains in the lead, followed by PKB, Golkar Party, the United Development Party (PPP) and PAN. It is predicted Golkar will move past PKB as more ballots from provinces outside of Java are counted.

Alwi earlier said PDI Perjuangan and PAN were the most ideal coalition partners for PKB.

"PKB is seeking to form a coalition with PDI Perjuangan and PAN only," he said.

"Until now, our relationship with PDI Perjuangan remains strong," he said. "Meanwhile, PAN has to make clear its stand on certain issues before it joins a PKB-PDI Perjuangan coalition."

He said PKB never considered coalescing with other parties, including Golkar Party and PPP, because differences in party platforms were too great.

Alwi said there was a possibility a PKB-PAN-PDI Perjuangan coalition could name PKB founder Abdurrahman Wahid its presidential nominee if PDI Perjuangan chairwoman Megawati's presidential bid received strong opposition from the Muslim community.

"Gus Dur (as Abdurrahman is popularly known) could be proposed as an alternative candidate," he said, adding that Abdurrahman was the only acceptable presidential candidate after Megawati. (44/swa/swe/imn)