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."