PDI-P executive plays down threats of revolution

PDI-P executive plays down threats of revolution

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
Perjuangan) executive Theo Syafei calmed fears over threats by
overzealous party members that it would mobilize a mass movement
for a revolution if party leader Megawati Soekarnoputri was not
elected as president.

Theo said on Monday the statements should not be taken
seriously and were pure rhetoric.

He claimed that such vigor from the "grass roots" was a manner
of expression to show that they continue to support Megawati even
though they were not directly involved in the election process at
the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR).

"So don't connote this with a lack of trust toward the process
and the Assembly members," he remarked.

However, he also underlined that in a democratic process
people had the right to express their political aspirations and
thus peaceful demonstrations of support should be tolerated.

"We can't forbid them to do these things, especially if what
they're doing is not in violation of the law," Theo remarked.

Jakarta and other major cities have been the scene of
increasing street demonstrations supporting one of the leading
presidential candidates.

With such a mass concentration of supporters, it is feared
that the situation may erupt should their candidate not be
elected on Wednesday night.

Separately, political scientist Arbi Sanit said on Monday that
the harsh comments and threats of a revolution by PDI Perjuangan
were made to compensate the party's wavering political prowess.

"It is meant to provoke people, to glue people to the party,"
Arbi said.

"Who wants a revolution, do they think it's easy to create a
revolution? They (PDI Perjuangan leaders) are talking like
students.

"Revolution can only occur if 70 percent of the people are
suffering. To suffer in such a way so that there is no other way
out. People are still eating properly, supermarkets are still
full nowadays," he lambasted.

Arbi urged PDI Perjuangan executives to tone down its rhetoric
and public demonstrations, fearing it might spark counter
movements which could end up in a clash.

"It will only disturb the presidential race at the session if
the rival supporters meet and a clash becomes inevitable," he
told Antara.

Meanwhile in Semarang, Central Java, the chairman of the
provincial chapter of the United Development Party (PPP) urged
leaders of political parties to disperse party supporters who
flock to certain spots of the capital in order to avoid possible
brawls among them.

M. Toeyfoer said on Monday that nobody wants bloodstains
spoiling the election of president by the Assembly.

"We are all children of the nation. We should not kill each
other only because we have different political attitudes or
because we have different presidential candidates," he told The
Jakarta Post.

The flow of PDI Perjuangan supporters from outside Jakarta
have drawn pros and cons, but many say such a mass deployment is
liable to ignite a riot.

That's why the parties' elite, including Amien Rais, Megawati
Soekarnoputri, Hamzah Haz, Matori Abdul Djalil and Akbar
Tandjung, should go to the street to instill in their supporters
to go home, Toeyfoer said.

"The party leaders should encourage the supporters to trust
the MPR to pick the best person as the new president, which will
be accepted by all layers of society," he added.

Meanwhile, the chairman of the Central Java chapter of
National Awakening Party (PKB), Ircham Abdulrochim, said that PDI
Perjuangan supporters' appearance in Jakarta reflected their
skepticism about how the Assembly would elect the president.

"Therefore, the people's representatives should be responsive
and careful in responding to the political development or fatal
clashes among party supporters will take place," Ircham said.

He said, however, he was optimistic clashes would not happen
if Megawati was elected president.

"What PDI Perjuangan supporters believe is that the party won
the general election, and therefore Megawati deserves the
presidential seat."

In Yogyakarta, senior sociologist Nasikun said that the
outpouring of mass support was a result of the obscure politics
by party elites.

"The game being played by our political elites is causing
confusion and worry among the people who fear a discrepancy
between the results of the election and the decision of the
Assembly," he said.

He warned that if it reached a certain point of anxiety,
people would begin to take things into their own hands and
security forces would be unable to stop the emotional
frustration.

"This is the problem when you have a system such as ours,
where at the MPR level the people's sovereignty is represented by
political elites," he said.

When asked how the situation could be diffused, Nasikun
responded: "Simple, let Megawati become president".
(44/har/sur/emf)