PDI Perjuangan, PPP meetings

PDI Perjuangan, PPP meetings

Two major political parties -- the Indonesian Democratic Party
of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) and the United Development Party
(PPP) -- have been organizing a national congress and a national
meeting, respectively, one in Bali and the other in Jakarta.

Though the names of the meetings are different, their aim is
the same -- internal consolidation of the parties, which are
facing disintegration.

For PDI Perjuangan, the threat of disintegration was caused by
the decision by its board of executives to back the reelection of
Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso. For PPP, disintegration threatens
because of differences over when they should hold their national
meeting -- whether in 2003 or 2004.

It seems that PPP leaders are trying to be more accommodating,
putting the timing of the meeting on the agenda for its national
congress. Meanwhile, there is no sign that the PDI Perjuangan
gathering will accommodate its members' aspirations.

From these two parties, we could draw the conclusion that
political parties in this nation have yet to teach us how to
engage in democracy. Good democracy is one built at the
grassroots level, where decisions are made from the voice of the
people, the constituents. The people's voice is God's voice.

However, what is happening is that party leaders have taken
over that voice. Parties' decisions are their leaders' voices.
Worse, parties are identical to their founders or leaders.
Although the reform movement has been going for five years and
many political parties have emerged, the country's "democracy" is
still similar with that of the New Order era.

The voice of the people and the voice of party members mean
nothing.

-- Republika