PDI renews calls for bureaucratic reform

PDI renews calls for bureaucratic reform

JAKARTA (JP): The government-recognized Indonesian Democratic
Party (PDI) marked its 25th anniversary celebration over the
weekend with a fresh call for bureaucratic reforms.

PDI chairman Soerjadi said in his speech Saturday highlighting
the modest celebration that such reforms are of great
significance, particularly when the country is trying to lift
itself out of the monetary crisis.

"The ongoing crisis teaches us a lesson that economic ailments
cannot be healed by our economic machine alone ... We need an
efficient, transparent, rational and law abiding bureaucracy to
support economic restoration," he told 100 attendants, including
the party's top brass.

A breakaway celebration was held separately by supporters of
Megawati Soekarnoputri, who was ousted from the party's
leadership in a government-backed congress in June 1996.

PDI has been beleaguered with internal conflict since its
establishment as a fusion of tiny Christian and nationalist
parties on Jan. 10, 1973.

Soerjadi said Saturday bureaucratic reforms suggested a
massive drive to combat corruption which he said resulted in
inefficiency and the withering away of public confidence in the
government.

"A good bureaucracy will boost economic growth and equal
distribution of income and lay a conducive ground for national
stability," he said.

Next on the reform agenda was building a professional
bureaucracy which does not affiliate itself to a certain
political organization, Soerjadi said.

"The inevitable free trade will require us to dissolve those
traditional characteristics of our bureaucracy. We believe that a
clean government is all that we can rely on when we are facing
the present crisis or other adversities that may come in the
future," he said.

PDI and fellow minority party, the Moslem-based United
Development Party (PPP), have long complained about the
bureaucracy's monoloyalty to dominant Golkar, winner of each of
the six general elections held under the New Order since 1971.

The party recently delivered a motion on a clean and modern
bureaucracy to the People's Consultative Assembly, but it was
ruled out.

Elections

Soerjadi said bureaucratic reforms would not proceed without a
democratic mechanism which allowed the House of Representatives
to control the government.

He blamed the House for failing to effectively control the
government on Golkar's all-out efforts to win majority votes in
the general elections.

Golkar secured a record 74 percent of votes in the May 29
election last year, which was marred by sporadic riots and vote
rigging allegations. The victory earned Golkar 325 seats in the
House.

PDI, weakened by an internal split, suffered its worst defeat
ever, managing to secure only 11 out of the 425 seats up for
grabs.

Soerjadi reiterated Saturday PDI's demand for changes to the
election rules to ensure a fair and just poll.

"The present election rules restrict political organizations
from reaching their grassroots in villages and taking part in the
most important stages of the polls, namely the registration of
eligible voters, voting and ballot counting," he said.

PDI and PPP have urged the People's Consultative Assembly to
establish decrees which would allow political organizations
contesting the polls to play an administrative role in the
elections and to set up branches in villages.

The two motions are currently being deliberated in the
Assembly, but are facing stiff opposition from Golkar. (amd)