PDI makes development in its main campaign theme
PDI makes development in its main campaign theme
BOGOR, West Java (JP): The Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI)
plans to zero in on changes to national development programs
during the general electoral campaign from April 27 to May 22.
Government-recognized chairman of the party Soerjadi told a
meeting here yesterday of the 230 cadres who will train PDI's
campaign speakers that pushing for changes does not mean the
party seeks to destroy existing development achievements, or to
topple the legitimate government.
"PDI is always prepared to give the government constructive
criticism if anything goes wrong with our development programs,"
Soerjadi said.
"Development itself is a change, although the change must not
harm the overall sustainable development process." he added.
The election campaign precedes the May 29 general election,
featuring PDI, the dominant political organization, Golkar, and
the United Development Party.
In the 1992 election, PDI made the controversial issue of
limiting a president's tenure in office to only two terms as its
campaign theme, although it finally endorsed incumbent President
Soeharto's reelection for a sixth consecutive term.
PDI has decided not to rely on the campaign as a means to
canvass votes as it believes the election rules do not allow it
to make full use of the campaign period.
"We are preparing a number of tricks to gain votes without
having to violate the election rules. This will be our best-kept
secret," Soerjadi said yesterday.
The party's calls for change covers political, economic, legal
and sociocultural issues.
Soerjadi said the existing political system had yet to
encourage the fulfillment of people's democratic rights as
suggested by the 1945 Constitution.
"This sort of 'formal democracy' must turn into 'substantial
democracy' through the refurbishment of political instruments,"
he said.
The party suggested the empowering of the House of
Representatives as a controlling body to be equal with the
government. "We have to revise the House's internal rules so that
it can exercise its budgetary rights. If necessary, the rules
must be adopted as a law," Soerjadi said.
PDI renewed its call for separate leadership in the House and
the People's Consultative Assembly, saying that the assembly is
an institution which is more senior than the House, the President
and all other state bodies. Since 1971, the House speaker has
also been the leader of the People's Consultative Assembly.
The assembly comprises the 500 House members plus 500
representatives of various groups and professions nominated by
Soeharto.
Stating its stance on political development, the party urged
the government to let all political groups grow up independently.
At the same time, however, PDI asked the government to earmark
financial aid for the three political organizations from the
state budget.
PDI also called on the Armed Forces to start focusing on its
job of "introducing dynamics" to society, and to refrain from
affiliating itself to a certain political group.
The Armed Forces played a pivotal role in the setting up of
Golkar in the early 1960s and has been included in Golkar's
family at large.
Soerjadi said the government should revoke its "floating mass"
policy, which prevents political parties from having grassroots
branches, and recognize the rights and responsibilities of all
three political groups to improve the public's political
awareness.
On legal development, PDI called for a strong Supreme Court.
It also urged the government to work together with the House to
carry out the national legislation program by drawing up a
priority list of laws needed by the public.
On economic development, PDI reiterated the importance of a
national consensus to guarantee the use of economic resources for
the utmost benefit of the public as mandated by the Constitution.
(23/amd)