PDI should close ranks in difficult times

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.