Party leaders and state officials

Party leaders and state officials

How to differentiate a state official from a party leader? The
Vice President Hamzah Haz once issued a strong statement about
the U.S. strikes on Afghanistan. In the meantime, the Indonesian
government remained soft in its stance. The U.S. reaction to
Hamzah's statement then emerged. Hamzah argued his comments had
been made in his capacity as the chairman of the United
Development Party (PPP).

Hamzah could make the argument. The fact is that he represents
the constituents of the PPP, an Islamic-based party whose masses
are enraged with U.S. strikes on Afghanistan. Yet, Hamzah is the
vice president. How to differentiate whether the statement made
is the official government stance or the parties?

Some senior figures of the Indonesian Democratic Party of
Struggle (PDI-Perjuangan) have tried to minimize such confusion
by asking Megawati, PDI-Perjuangan chairwoman as well as
president, to surrender her technical responsibility in the
party. However, this idea is rejected by other groups within the
party. It is alleged that a party leader serving concurrently as
a state official will give advantages to the party.

It's a dilemma which should be faced, something which should
not occur if our officials are humble enough to relinquish their
party roles.

--Koran Tempo, Jakarta