PKB, PDI Perjuangan 'coalition possible'
JAKARTA (JP): Political observer Nurcholish Madjid said on Wednesday a coalition of "anti-status quo" parties comprising Megawati Soekarnoputri's Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) and Abdurrahman Wahid's National Awakening Party (PKB) was possible.
It would be more difficult to draw Amien Rais' National Mandate Party (PAN) into the group because of the parties' different characteristics, American-educated Nurcholish said in a discussion with The Jakarta Post.
Constituents of both PDI Perjuangan and PKB are known for their "obedience" toward their charismatic leaders, while PAN was built on a consensus between constituents.
Besides, "I don't think Amien Rais and Gus Dur (Abdurrahman) can be united," Nurcholish said, referring to the well-known fact that the two Muslim leaders do not get along well.
Nurcholish, who led the recently disbanded Team of Eleven in charge of selecting poll contestants, was commenting on other observers' suggestions that only with a coalition could "anti- status quo" parties preclude the likelihood of Golkar again winning the elections using money and the support of the military.
Nurcholish, who helped found the Independent Elections Monitoring Committee (KIPP), said both Amien and Abdurrahman represented the two main powers in Muslim society, namely the 28- million-strong Muhammadiyah and the 30-million-strong Nahdlatul Ulama respectively. However, "historically and personally, the two have different roots".
"If the differences are not solved, it could be bad for the country's democratization. (In fact), these differences have lingered (for too long)," he said.
Established in January 1926, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) consists of well-educated kyai (scholars and often leaders of Islamic boarding schools) with strong grassroot support. Muhammadiyah, established in September 1912, is known to be moderate and rather westernized because of its long history of building education programs under Dutch colonial rule.
"There's a gap between them," he said.
Nurcholish, who obtained his doctoral degree in Islamic studies from the University of Chicago, reiterated the next multiparty polls would be sociologically different from the 1955 polls.
"In 1955, there was a 'negative harmony' because there was a gap between party leaders and intellectuals who enjoyed Dutch (western education) and the common people.
"Now, with democratization, people are higher spirited and rather emotional."
The Team of Eleven decided earlier this month that 48 parties, including the three sole parties allowed to contest elections under the former regime, namely Golkar, the United Development Party (PPP) and the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI), were qualified to contest the June 7 elections.
Twelve disqualified parties protested the decision, but Nurcholish told them to approach the newly formed National Elections Committee (KPU) to seek a ruling reversal.
Nurcholish pointed out the most important thing for Indonesia now was to have a fair and free general election.
"If Golkar wins and (President B.J.) Habibie wins, how painful (for Indonesia) it would be, and we would still have to accept it," Nurcholish said.
"Habibie should not run for president. He does not fit the bill to be the 'father of the nation'," Nurcholish said.
He cited how public calls for a national dialog and reconciliation as a sociopsychological approach to solving national problems were ignored by Habibie, saying it had been covered in the Special Session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) last November.
He speculated that Habibie was insensitive to many of the nation's problems because "he is used to dealing with machines".
Nurcholish predicted Indonesia would reach a new equilibrium in 2025, "when power groups like NU share common opportunities with others... Well, we'll just have to pass this troubled time." (edt)