PDI and Petisi 50 see eye to eye
PDI and Petisi 50 see eye to eye
JAKARTA (JP): Dissident group Petisi 50 advised the Indonesian
Democratic Party (PDI) yesterday to continue pushing for
political reforms.
In a rare public hearing with the minority party's faction in
the House of Representatives (DPR), the group members said that
various political laws currently serve the interests of the
government at the expense of democracy.
They said the laws on general elections, political parties,
membership of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR and mass
organizations all discouraged people from participating in the
political decision making process.
Formed in 1980 and spearheaded by retired marine general Ali
Sadikin, Petisi 50 groups prominent figures who formally served
the Soeharto government but later turned critical of the
president.
Ten of Petisi 50 members that turned up at the meeting
included Sadikin, a former governor of Jakarta, Hoegeng Iman
Santoso, a former National Police Chief, A.M. Fatwa, S.K Trimurti
and Aziz Saleh.
PDI was represented by senior legislators Soetardjo
Soerjogoeritno, Sukowaluyo, Royani Amminullah and Sabam Sirait at
the lively discussion.
The Petisi 50 members said many laws benefit the government.
The law on general elections, for instance, was a case in point
as it forbids the contesting parties to criticize the government
during election campaigns, they said.
PDI legislators agreed that the party, which is considered by
many as an "opposition" party, should continue pushing for
political reforms.
"Most of your suggestions have been our long-standing
concern," said Sabam.
He said the party has repeatedly proposed that the contestants
be involved in the organization of the general election,
currently handled by the government, in order to ensure fairness.
Sukowaluyo told the Petisi 50 that PDI was consistent about
its commitment to promoting democracy.
He proposed forming a network involving the press, laymen and
socio-political organizations to strengthen the push for
democratization in the country.
Sadikin said that it had been a great 14 years for the Petisi
50 since its inception because they still survive despite the
"unfriendly" treatment by the government, such as travel bans
imposed on its members.
Sadikin and other dissidents, like former defense minister
Abdul Haris Nasution and Hoegeng, were once barred from traveling
overseas.
Petisi 50 member Fatwa told the legislators that he wondered
if he still had a chance to become a legislator given his
position as a member of the group.
He said that Sadikin, for instance, intended to join PDI in
1979, but was blocked. "If Ali and other friends planned to join
PDI, I wonder if the party would dare accept them," he said.
(par)