Three political parties are enough: Siswono

Three political parties are enough: Siswono

JAKARTA (JP): A senior government official on Saturday called
on Indonesia's three political organizations to better
accommodate the public's aspirations.

Siswono Yudohusodo, a member of the ruling Golkar's board of
patrons, said that Indonesia does not need any more political
parties as long as the existing ones improve their performances.

"History has shown us that having many political parties was
no good, because they bashed each other and stirred up political
chaos," he said while addressing a gathering of Golkar members in
Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara.

Indonesia has three political organizations: Golkar, the
United Development Party (PPP) and the Indonesian Democratic
Party (PDI). They are mergers of 10 political parties, completed
in 1973.

Critics say that the three have been co-opted by the
bureaucracy and have largely failed to defend the people's
interests.

Recently, former PPP legislator Sri Bintang Pamungkas
established a new party -- the Indonesian Democratic Union Party
-- which the government does not recognize.

Siswono, who is also the minister of transmigration, said the
effectiveness of political communication is not dictated by the
number, but by the quality of political organizations.

He said that as Indonesians become more economically
prosperous and educated, there will be an increase in demands
that political organizations will have to address.

Siswono called on Golkar activists to be wary of people who
are out to discredit the government by spreading false
information that development programs have brought about little
benefit for the masses.

"You Golkar cadres should be able to explain the success of
development," he was quoted as saying by the Antara news agency.

However, he said, it should be acknowledged that there are
shortcomings in the development programs that should be
addressed. "People tend to exploit the negative side and overlook
the success," he said. (pan)