PKB proving itself to be inclusive, pluralistic party

The National Awakening Party (PKB) failed to resolve its internal conflict during its recent congress in Semarang, Central Java. The inclusiveness political party, which has strong links to the world's largest Muslim organization, Nahdlatul Ulama, however attracts many non-Muslim people. The Jakarta Post's Suherdjoko talked to businessman/activist Hermawi Fransiscus Taslim about the party on the sidelines of the congress. These are some of the key excerpts of the conversation.

Question: Do you think you, as a Catholic, are accepted in the PKB, which is predominantly Muslim?

Answer: I'm really surprised at the way they accepted me. (He was elected as one of PKB deputy secretary-generals) I thought that it would take quite a while for me to be accepted in a non- Catholic party. However, after joining the party a few months ago, I was put on the central board of executives.

How could this happen? Was it because of the role you played or was it thanks to the party's open nature?

I am also surprised that they so easily accept newcomers. This might also be a weakness of the party. Outsiders can easily infiltrate the party. However, they just take it easy about this matter. Once, a newcomer was quickly accepted into the party. I asked them why they (the top clerics in the PKB) had no doubts about welcoming me. Instead, they told me, "We accepted you in the same way (as any other Muslim member), didn't we?"

Could you share an experience that can prove that the PKB is really a pluralistic party?

Yes, for example in East Nusa Tenggara, West Nusa Tenggara, Papua, Maluku and North Sumatra, every time a Christian-based executive board -- either at a provincial or regency level -- is installed, the ceremony always starts with a Christian service. In Java, such a ceremony is always preceded by the reciting of Koran. Is this enough proof?

I had my personal experiences about this when I was in South Sumatra. It was Sunday. I was in a car. Suddenly, the driver stopped the car. Then my Muslim friends told me that we were close to a Catholic church. They let me go to mass. It was really unexpected.

Then during the formation of the executive board of the party in Mamasa in Sulawesi, the Muslims asked that the board should also include non-Muslims. The initiative came from them.

Given this pluralism, do you think the PKB can develop in non- Muslim regions?

Of course. Abdurrahman Wahid (former president and former NU chairman) is known as an anti-discrimination figure.

This gives a strong influence to the party. In my opinion, the PKB is a nationalist-religious political party.

Take, for example, the seats that the party has collected in the regional legislative assembly in East Nusa Tanggara. The party garnered a 12-fold increase in votes over the 1999 election. In that predominantly Christian province, 28 of the members of the regional legislative assembly members from the PKB are either Protestant or Catholic. In Sangir Talaud, North Sulawesi, the chief of the party's executive board is a Catholic priest. Eleven provinces in largely non-Muslim eastern Indonesia accepted the party. This means that the PKB can develop in non- Muslim regions.

In your experience, is this the best way to develop the PKB in non-Muslim regions?

Of course. The PKB tries to adapt itself with the culture in each region. In this way, the local community can easily accept the party. Please read the party's articles of association and internal rules. Therein lies the spirit of equality and anti- discrimination, and confirmation that pluralism is what the party fights for. Given all this, this party can obviously be accepted by all.

What is your expectation about the future development of the PKB?

The PKB must further expand to non-Muslim areas outside Java. In Java, it is clear that the base of the party is in the pesantren, Muslim boarding schools. More work has to be done outside Java. The PKB must immediately devote its attention to develop itself outside Java. This is the party's immediate task.

What do you think about a few conflicts that have now broken out in the PKB?

All the conflicts can be settled. Differences of opinion in the PKB can be resolved in the NU manner. As I see it, some of the younger members have different opinions to that of the senior clerics. However, they do not express their opinions in a vulgar way. There are ethics there. I cannot understand why it has to be perceived as a "conflict" by the media. Differences of opinion that degenerate into conflicts can be settled without causing a crack in the party. This is uniquely an NU tradition that has been brought into the PKB.