PPP expected to push govt for total reform

PPP expected to push govt for total reform

JAKARTA (JP): The new leadership of the United Development
Party (PPP) under Hamzah Haz is expected to continue the party's
drive for reforms which include a reduction of the Armed Forces'
role in politics and a fair democratic election next year.

Political scientist Indria Samego from the Indonesian
Institute of Sciences (LIPI) said Hamzah should step up the
party's efforts to act as a check on the government, as outlined
in the congress.

"The PPP should continue to control the government both
directly and through the legislative bodies.

"As a popular party, it should be able to channel the people's
demands for a total reform, including the trial of former
president Soeharto and the investigation of his wealth and that
of his family and cronies," he said.

According to Indria, PPP must play an even more active role in
the deliberation of the political bills in the House of
Representatives (DPR) to ensure a fair election takes place next
year.

Most notably it should proceed with its pledge to push for a
reduction in the military's presence in the House.

"The PPP should remain committed to ending the Armed Forces'
political role," he said.

Indria, who is also known as an astute military observer,
hailed a statement issued by the congress which calls for the
number of seats allocated to the Armed Forces (ABRI) in the House
of Representatives to be cut from 75 to 10.

He said he expects the statement to help boost support for the
party among pro-reform groups.

As the largest opposition party in the House, Indria said
people would look to the PPP to press the government to dissolve
the directorate general of political affairs and the military-
dominated Coordinating Board for National Stability
(Bakorstanas), which have in the past been used to exert pressure
on political parties.

One important role the PPP could play, Indria said, would be
to help eradicate antagonism between opposing groups in society.

"The party is expected to play a role as a political broker to
bridge the communications gap between the transitional government
and the people, and to eradicate antagonism between ABRI and
civilians, indigenous and non-indigenous people, Moslems and non-
Moslems and the rich and the poor," he said.

Tosari Wijaya, the party's previous secretary general, said
much hope is being placed on Hamzah to implement a political and
economic agenda as prescribed by the party congress.

"The PPP will continue to encourage the government to develop
an economy oriented toward the people, reform the banking
industry and promote small and medium-sized companies," Tosari
said.

Zarkasih Nur, deputy chairman of the party faction in the
People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) and chairman of the congress
organizing committee, said that the PPP would remain open to all,
despite the decision to readopt the Kaabah as the party's symbol.

Zarkasih maintained that the party would continue to pursue
national development in accordance with the 1945 Constitution and
the Pancasila state ideology.

He said that Islam would form the basis of the party's
principles but would not be used to alienate people with other
religious beliefs, saying the party would "Indonesianize" Islam.

"This means all development programs will be seen from an
Islamic perspective," he said.

Confidence

Indria, Tosari and Zurkasih said they were confident the party
could win a majority at the next general election, despite the
recent emergence of a number of other Islamic political parties.

Indria said that the party's traditional supporters from
Muslimin Indonesia, Nadhlatul Ulama (NU), Partai Tarbiyah
Islamiyah and Syarikat Islam were expected to remain loyal
because many leading figures in the party are members of these
groups.

"The presence of influential NU political ulemas in the party
such as Hamzah, Hermani, Muchsin Bafadal and Yudho Peripurno is
expected to attract the support of NU members," he said.

In his view, the party has the potential to win 20 percent of
the popular vote in the country at next year's general election
-- the equivalent of 90 seats in the next House.

If the party fails to win a majority, both Zarkasih and Tosari
said they would not be adverse to forming alliances with other
parties which shared similar goals. (rms)