PDI Perjuangan, Golkar becoming political allies

PDI Perjuangan, Golkar becoming political allies

JAKARTA (JP): In politics anything is possible and enemies can
quickly become friends. That has been particularly evident in
recent days between the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle
(PDI Perjuangan) and the Golkar Party who seem to be going
through something of a honeymoon period.

Just a few years ago the two seemed to be intractably opposed.
Now the hatchet is buried and while they are still political
competitors, the two largest factions in the People's
Consultative Assembly seem to support one another on many
fundamental issues.

After years of indifference towards the other, the Golkar
Party faction chairman in the Assembly, Syamsul Mu'arif, conceded
that the two parties have repeatedly taken a common political
stance.

"Yes, it is true that we have been taking the same steps as
PDI Perjuangan lately. We have finally realized that on some
issues we share the same views and, besides, it is in the
interests of the country," Syamsul told The Jakarta Post here on
Sunday.

He contended that based upon wider interest and the good of
the nation, there should be no shame in siding with a long-
standing political rival.

"Besides, there is no permanent political hatred," Syamsul
claimed.

Golkar enjoyed overwhelming political hegemony for practically
all of the 32-year rule of former President Soeharto.

In the mid-1990s during the ascendance of Megawati
Soekarnoputri, the government launched several attempts to
sabotage her leadership including backing a special congress
which "officially" toppled her and split the party in two.

While many of the old faces remain, the current Golkar
leadership has distanced itself from the past.

Fluid political developments in the past few weeks have shown
a growing affinity between the two former political rivals.

The most recent demonstration of this was a "coalition" last
week between the two parties and the National Awakening Party
following President Abdurrahman Wahid's progress report.

The two largest political parties agreed to support
Abdurrahman's continuance in office.

A solid alliance between the PDI Perjuangan and the Golkar
Party would represent an unbreakable power block in the 700-seat
Assembly as they respectively hold 184 and 182 seats.

"Maybe we should thank Abdurrahman for firing ministers from
our parties," Syamsul remarked of the dismissal of former state
minister of investment and state enterprises development
Laksamana Sukardi, and former minister of trade and industry
Yusuf Kalla who respectively from PDI Perjuangan and Golkar.

"Because of his decision it now makes it possible for us to
walk hand in hand," he added.

PDI Perjuangan Assembly members seemed more noncommittal when
confronted with acknowledging intimacy with their former foes.

Senior party member Jacob Tobing said the growing relationship
between the two parties was limited only to certain issues where
they share a common view.

"The closeness between the two parties depends on certain
issues because in some we share the same opinion but maybe in
some others we have different views, nothing more," Jacob said.

He further added that it would be a very good move if Golkar
publicly admits that it will comply with PDI Perjuangan in most
political decisions.

Another PDI Perjuangan legislator Dimyati Hartono maintained
that the "coalition" was not a permanent feature and was spurred
merely by recent political developments.

"However, I cannot say what the intentions are behind Golkar's
move because the initiative came from them. But there is a
similar point of view and we can adopt a common stance," Dimyati
asserted.(dja)