Political parties come under fire
Political parties come under fire
JAKARTA (JP): A number of political commentators decried yesterday the dismissals of two outspoken legislators by their political organizations.
Priyatmoko and Hariadi, both of Surabaya-based Airlangga University, and Syamsuddin Haris of the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), said the moves by Golkar and the United Development Party (PPP) amounted to "political violence".
The three said in separate interviews that the dismissals prove that all that the existing political organizations care about is safeguarding the interests of the political power holders.
Hariadi said that by dismissing Bambang Warih Koesoemo and Sri Bintang Pamungkas, the ruling political grouping, Golkar, and the Moslem-based United Development Party displayed undue dependence on the government.
Hariadi told The Jakarta Post that he believed that Bambang's dismissal indicated an ongoing conflict within Golkar, in which a certain group was trying to purge elements belonging to other groups. This friction, he said, needs to be addressed immediately before the public loses its trust in the organization.
Another observer, Burhan Magenda of the University of Indonesia, said he believed the dismissal served as a warning for other legislators to be more careful and watchful of their conduct.
"There are regulations condoning the action of dismissing legislators ... but it's never a popular move," Priyatmoko told the Post.
He added that because the measures were taken in relation to two legislators known for their outspokenness and whistle-blowing practices, and because they were not given any opportunity to defend themselves, the actions smacked of "political violence".
"It's so unfortunate that there's no opportunity for the legislators to argue and defend their cases," he said.
PPP announced on Monday its intention to withdraw Sri Bintang Pamungkas from the House of Representatives (DPR).
On the same day, President Soeharto reportedly indicated he would approve Golkar's removal of Bambang Warih Koesoemo. This report has yet to be confirmed.
Hariadi accused the House and the political parties of failing to function as "the main institution for democracy".
He said that, "The House has been relegated simply to the role of an institution to safeguard stability."
He also said he believed Bambang's dismissal was the result of a power struggle between competing forces within Golkar.
"The dismissal of Bambang can be viewed from many sides," he said. "There are people who see it as proof that a group within Golkar is trying to cleanse it of elements from other factions within."
"This dismissal was only a testing of the water, to see how the public would react before this faction go further," he said.
Priyatmoko charged that PPP was only going along for the ride with Golkar when it decided to dismiss Bintang. "It's just making use of the current situation, hoping that the public has gotten used to, and will be more tolerant toward, the idea of legislators being dismissed," he said.
Hariadi and Syamsuddin pointed out the dismissals only served to prove that the existence of the political parties is meant to serve the interests of those in power rather than of the people.
Syamsuddin said the "authoritarian measures" displayed too clearly the weak position of the House in the overall political constellation. "In Bintang's case, it's clear that his fault is that his statements threatened the interests of the power holders," he said.
"This is a real setback in our political life," Syamsuddin said. "These dismissals are authoritarian, because there's nobody defending the legislators in question. Even a chicken snatcher gets a trial."
Priyatmoko said the dismissal proved that "democratization is not the primary consideration in our political life". He pointed out that the nation's political life is heavily steered toward efforts to "preserve the national ideology and stability".
We said there should be an explanation as to which of Bintang and Bambang's actions which were considered to be endangering national stability.
"Is it true, or is it only that several people got uncomfortable because of the legislators' outspokenness?" he said. "Or could it be because the party was afraid of the government's displeasure of it?"
Burhan Magenda, seeing another side to the dismissal, say the incidents should remind legislators to be "careful" in making statements in order to avoid similar treatment.
"Legislators, too, are observed by their organizations," Burhan told the Antara news agency. "They should be careful, without sacrificing their social control function."