PDI conflict drives people to traditional protest

PDI conflict drives people to traditional protest

YOGYAKARTA (JP): The sun scorched the backs of eight
Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) members who were sun baking to
protest the sidelining of party leader Megawati Soekarnoputri.

Outside the Surakarta palace in Central Java last week, Novel,
a sun-baking protester, said: "We're seeking the sultan's help to
solve our problems."

Novel was referring to Sri Susuhunan Pakubuwono XII, who
reigns at Surakarta Palace. Although he has not inherited the
power of Javanese kings, he is well respected by locals.

"It is still relevant for us to sun bake and seek a solution
for our unsolved problems," said Novel whose head and face were
covered with white cloth.

Novel and his friends had sent a letter in Javanese to the
sultan complaining about the PDI's rift. It said they were
concerned that Megawati was supported by many people but
unrecognized by the government.

The protesters asked the sultan, "Shall we vote for PPP (the
Moslem-based United Development Party) or PDI in the election?
Would the sultan mind if we voted Golput (abstained from the
polls)?"

Sun baking, or pepe, is a traditional form of protest in Java.
People used to sunburn themselves in front of the palace to
attract the sultan's attention. It was up to the sultan whether
he invited the protesters into the palace to air their
grievances.

These modern day sun-baking protesters must be hard pressed to
resort to this ancient form of protest.

Novel said he and other Megawati loyalists were genuinely
confused. If they voted for PDI, they felt they would not be
represented and if they chose PPP they would be betraying their
roots.

"Maybe being a non-voter is the best answer," he said.

Political observer Arief Budiman, a self-proclaimed non-voter,
said that abstaining from the election was no longer an option of
the economically and intellectually capable urban middle class.

He said Megawati supporters were from varied backgrounds
including villages. "Being a non-voter is now an option for the
farmers, fishermen, merchants, workers, artists and anyone who
identify themselves as supporters of Megawati," he said.

In Central Java, Yogyakarta and East Java, Megawati's
supporters have publicly declared that they will not vote.

"If Megawati does not get reinstated, we would all become
Golput," said Sutoyo, a PDI leader in Temanggung, Central Java.

Several PDI members in Bali, another Megawati stronghold, have
declared: "Megawati or nothing."

History

Sartono Kartodirdjo, the 76-year-old historian and professor
emeritus at Gajah Mada University, said Indonesia had a long
history of protest. Before World War II, people had protested the
Dutch colonial administration because they wished to return to
the "peace and serenity of the traditional age".

"They did not want changes at the time. They did not think
about (protesting for change in) the future. They did not have
future then," he told The Jakarta Post yesterday.

"They protested the Dutch colonial government simply because
the Dutch were seen as infidels," said the author of The
Peasants' Revolt of Banten in 1888. Its condition, Course and
Sequel: A Case Study of Social Movement in Indonesia.

He said people now protested because they were restless and
anxious. "They have lost the old guidelines of life, and are
confused by modernization. Besides, today's situation is really
conducive for people to protest.

"This is a climate which is full of injustice for people.
That's why they're restless and continuously protesting," he
said.

Change

Political analyst Arbi Sanit recently predicted that up to 20
million people would boycott the May 29 general election to
protest election rules and the political system.

Arbi also attributed the boycott to the rift in the PDI. He
estimated that Megawati's seven million supporters, among the
party's 20 million, would boycott the election.

But will it be enough to spur change?

Arief Budiman said it would be naive to think that boycotters
could cause change. What could be expected from the abstainers
was "mental strength," he said.

The government has said that people do not have to vote, but
they must not encourage others to boycott the election.

Demonstrations supporting the boycott have been banned and
activists calling for it have been detained or tried. (38)