Party promises not to mobilize masses
JAKARTA (JP): The newly established Indonesian Workers Party (PPI) promised yesterday that it would not mobilize the masses to achieve its political objectives.
PPI, formed by activists of the All-Indonesia Workers Union Federation (FSPSI), joined the growing chorus calling for a convening of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) to establish a transitional government.
In veiled criticism of the Indonesian Prosperous Labor Union (SBSI), chairman Wilhelmus Bhoka said PPI would not use "coercive" measures such as mobilizing workers to demonstrate or to go on strike to press for its agenda.
"We believe labor leaders must not exploit workers to achieve their personal or group's political ambitions," Bhoka told reporters.
SBSI, chaired by Muchtar Pakpahan, has defended its method of staging demonstrations to press for better treatment for workers, saying that workers have suffered so much under the current political system.
SBSI, however, was forced to cancel a planned march to the House of Representatives on Thursday after the military blocked their path as they were about to leave their headquarters in the Tebet district, South Jakarta.
Bhoka said PPI set an August deadline for the meeting of the MPR to appoint a new government, pointing out that President B.J. Habibie's is still wrought with questions of legitimacy.
Habibie has promised a general election by May next year and an MPR meeting to elect a new president the following December.
While not completely ruling out the possibility that Habibie could be formally appointed by the MPR, Bhoka said the elected president would have to form a Cabinet free from the remnants of the Soeharto regime.
PPI secretary-general Salam Sumangat said the lack of legitimacy was hampering all efforts to resolve the economic crisis by the government of Habibie.
Bhoka predicted the crisis would get worse unless the nation addressed the question of legitimacy.
He said if the MPR could not come to an agreement on a president because of the absence of a viable candidate, then it could appoint a Council for the Restoration of Democracy and People's Sovereignty, to run or appoint a transitional government.
PPI proposed several public figures to sit in the council, including Ali Sadikin, Sultan Hamengkubuwono X, Amien Rais, Megawati Soekarnoputri, Abdurrahman Wahid, Julius Darmaatmadja and Lt. Gen. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
It also suggested the inclusion of representatives from Gadjah Mada University, the University of Indonesia, Bandung Institute of Technology, Trisakti University, FSPSI and SBSI.
The council would be in charge of preparing for a general election as soon as possible, and addressing the country's economic crisis, it said. (aan)