PDI should close ranks in difficult times

Rebel members of the rift-ridden Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) are planning to hold a congress in Medan tomorrow. Political scientist J. Soedjati Djiwandono takes a closer look at this event.

JAKARTA (JP): It is doubtful that the congress of the Indonesian Democratic Party to be convened tomorrow will bring a solution to its long-standing leadership crisis. It may even mark the beginning of another more serious crisis.

The split within the party is far more serious than before. It has finally affected its central executive board, although not for the first time. The pretext of the split has been differences in interpreting certain provisions of the party's statutes and by-laws in efforts to overcome its leadership crisis.

Like a reflection of Indonesia's political system, the party seems to have no statutory provision to solve such a problem. In principle, party members as a whole should have the final say. But outside of the forum of a congress, how can they exercise that power?

Can anyone in the central executive board simply claim majority support and exploit it to convene a congress so that they can have their way?

Do the "rebel" leaders not owe their present positions in the central executive board to Megawati Soekarnoputri as the leader of their party? Does this not mean they have accepted her as the elected leader from the last national assembly held in Jakarta three years ago? This is not to say that her election was constitutionally and legally valid. But interestingly, this is not a point at issue.

Of course, for whatever reason, they may have found Megawati disappointing or unfavorable. But what they are doing will set a bad precedent for the party. In future it might go from one leadership crisis to the next, marked by internal bickering and division if a leader's performance falls below expectations by the end of his or her term.

During tough times caused by external pressure and interference, Megawati deserves support for her leadership from all levels of the party as well as from rank and file party members because she is the party's representative. They should close ranks instead of going their own ways.

It is hard not to think that the rebel leaders and their supporters have their own personal interests at heart, rather than those of the party.

As Thomas Jefferson once said, "My loyalty to the party ends, where my loyalty to the country begins." The word "country", of course, does not always mean "government".

Indeed, the government's attitude has been baffling. Curiously, it seems to claim the authority to offer the right interpretation of the party's statutes and by-laws, and has done so in favor of the splinter group.

This creates the impression that its greatest reason for backing the party's congress is motivated by its desire to be rid of Megawati; for reasons one can only guess.

It has continually advised unity and dialog to overcome the party's split. Yet it seems ready to back any splinter group in the party opposed to Megawati's leadership, seemingly without account of any possible implications.

Meanwhile, Megawati has continued to stick her neck out. But for her to do otherwise would probably justify the government's continuous interference and harassment. Her attitude has cost her the support of some friends, which is a risk she should have calculated.

It is a moot point to say which side has been right in terms of serving national or party interests. Perhaps the future will tell. But right does not always win the day.

By its name, the PDI purports to be dedicated to the democratic cause. The way in which it puts its own house in order, by following the ideals and principles of democracy, will reflect its commitment to democracy and thus its credibility.

With goodwill and good faith, it may still be possible to save the party from further disaster at the eleventh hour. But it takes a good deal of courage and statesmanship to sacrifice personal vanity and ambition in the interests of higher moral values and principles. These today are scarce commodities among Indonesian political leaders.

The writer is a member of the Board of Directors at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Jakarta.