Political parties to start battle of programs on Sunday
By Dwi Atmanta
JAKARTA (JP): Massive gatherings of thousands of yelling, drum-beating and horn-whistling political supporters look set to become the main characteristic of the 27-day nationwide election campaign which starts Sunday.
But the deafening noise and colossal turnout of the rallies will yield nothing in the May 29 poll if campaign speakers are not armed with worthwhile programs. The following is a brief look at the politicking tools the three political contestants will hawk in the election.
The two minority parties, the United Development Party (PPP) and the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI), in previous elections have attracted supporters by attacking various government policies and the dominant Golkar.
Fresh criticism has undoubtedly been prepared this time.
The criticism aimed at Golkar in electoral campaigns has always left it on the defensive side, a Golkar figure, Rully Chairul Azwar, admitted yesterday.
"The problem lies in the fact that we have the experiences that the other political parties do not.
"Despite the criticism, we will offer the issue of sustainable national development because we have so far proved that we managed to carry it out," said Rully.
Golkar has defeated its contenders with a landslide victory in each of the previous five elections, enabling it to obtain a majority. It is expected to land another convincing win in the upcoming election.
Rully said that in its campaign, Golkar would insist that the nation prepare itself for the more competitive world in the next century, while continuing the search for prosperity, socioeconomic equity, justice and a more democratic society.
"Don't ever think that we have no intention to develop political openness. We do encourage democracy which complies with our constitution and state ideology Pancasila, (but discourage democratization) that is aimed at disrupting national integrity," he said.
Golkar will deploy some 1,100 campaign speakers. Included among them are its high-profile patrons, members of its leadership board, legislative candidates and nonfunctionaries such as artists and public figures.
The dominant political group will not touch the controversial 1985 laws on politics, according to Rully.
The five laws on general elections, mass organizations, sociopolitical organizations, referendums and the People's Consultative Assembly have repeatedly been criticized by the PPP, the PDI and political experts who claim the laws discouraged democratization.
Morals
PPP secretary-general Tosari Wijaya said yesterday his party would prioritize the five political laws in the party's election campaign. It would also call for a change in government officials' behavior.
"The rampant collusion and corruption involving bureaucrats indicate that we are facing overwhelming moral decadence. What kind of future will we have if ethics and morals are ignored?" Tosari said.
The party's chairman Ismail Hasan Metareum has repeatedly warned the nation of a decline in moral standards.
Tosari said there were possibilities that PPP would also start campaigning for a limit on a president's tenure, and for an empowered House of Representatives.
In the 1992 election campaign, PDI gathered great support by proposing that the presidential term of office be limited to only two terms.
The party's 1,697 campaign speakers will also zero in on protection for small businesses and the informal sector against escalating conglomeration.
"In the wake of increasing unemployment, cooperatives serve only as capital accumulation, but fail to provide jobs," Tosari said.
Leadership of the government-recognized PDI has ordered its 660 campaign speakers to again campaign for the separation of the House of Representatives and the People's Consultative Assembly leadership in an attempt to revitalize the legislative bodies over the government.
"The assembly is the state's highest institution, higher than the House, the President and other bodies," PDI chairman Soerjadi said recently.
Since 1971, a House speaker has chaired the assembly.
The assembly comprises all the 500 House members plus 500 representatives of various groups and professions who are appointed by the President.
The PDI will also call on the Armed Forces to limit itself to a military role and refrain from affiliating with Golkar. The Armed Forces played a pivotal role in the setting up of Golkar in the early 1960s and has been included in Golkar's "big family".