Political parties to start battle of programs on Sunday

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".