PDI-P warned on money politics

PDI-P warned on money politics

YOGYAKARTA (JP): With Megawati Soekarnoputri's reelection to
the top post literally waiting for the gavel, calls mount for
supporters of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
Perjuangan) to monitor money politics involving their
representatives at local legislatures.

Political observer Cornelis Lay of Gadjah Mada University
suggested on Tuesday that the party's top executives take strict
measures in response to allegations of bribery which have cost
the party top government posts in some regencies recently.

"This is a serious matter that could endanger both the party
and the nation. The party members should raise the issue during
the upcoming congress and be able to cope with it," he said.

He was commenting on a string of surprising defeats suffered
by the party in many regent elections across Java, despite the
fact that they dominated the regional legislatures.

Alleged money politics has cast a foreboding shadow over the
party's upcoming congress in Semarang, after research conducted
by Gadjah Mada University's School of Social and Political
Sciences recently revealed that a number of PDI Perjuangan
legislators dropped their support for their candidates when
offered money by certain parties.

PDI Perjuangan lost its bid to win the Surabaya mayoral post
after most of its representatives at the city's legislative
council voted for incumbent Soenarto Sumoprawiro, who was
nominated by the National Awakening Party.

Shortly after winning most of the votes in last year's general
election, the party raised many eyebrows when its representatives
at the Jakarta City Council backed Indonesian Military (TNI)
legislator Edi Waluyo for the council chairmanship.

Cornelis labeled those involved in money politics traitors,
and said they should be severely reprimanded by the party.

By no means justifying the practice, Cornelis said bribery was
common in Indonesian politics and involved legislators
representing other parties.

"But the issue becomes crucial for PDI Perjuangan because the
party won most of the seats in the many regional legislatures."

"We should also admit that PDI Perjuangan legislators were
excluded in the past. They were poor and not well-educated," he
explained.

Lay said regional legislators played a significant political
role, thanks to the endorsement of laws on regional autonomy and
the fiscal balance established between the central government and
local governments.

Chief

Cornelis also warned the party supporters against preserving a
cult of personality by demanding Megawati's reelection.

He regretted the staunch rejection of cultural activist Eros
Djarot to the nomination, and Dimyati Hartono, one of the party's
executives, for the chief post.

"There is an apparent conspiracy among the party's elites to
exclude Eros and Dimyati," Cornelis said.

He added that the party's supporters had been unilaterally
denouncing for quite some time any opposition to Megawati,
branding them as being an enemy of the party and of Megawati.

"In fact, we know Eros is Megawati's close friend, and Dimyati
is the man who has been proven to be one of the party's loyalists
during difficult times in the past," Cornelis said.

He reiterated that Megawati should concentrate on her tasks as
Vice President until 2004, although he admitted that Megawati's
indispensability as the binding factor among party supporters was
an undeniable fact.

He suggested that the party modify its organizational
structure to allow Megawati to maintain her influence and status
without having to involve herself in the party's daily
activities.

Eros, meanwhile, pledged to go on with his candidacy and said
that his move would not lead to a split within the party.

"I love Mbak Mega and will always support her. There will be
no crack in the party, only differences of opinion.
Unfortunately, my stance has never been responded to with common
sense," Eros said while attending a seminar in Semarang.

While the Central Java capital is bracing for the party
congress, Mayor Sukawi Sutarip said on Tuesday all preparations
were in place. Community posts have been erected across the city
to provide people and congress participants with all the
necessary information regarding the March 27 through April 1
event. (44/har)