Traditional allegiances 'inconsequential'

Traditional allegiances 'inconsequential'

M. Taufiqurrahman, Jakarta

After this year's elections, Indonesian politics would not be
polarized between the traditional ideological groupings of
Islamists and nationalists, under which political parties formed
rival coalitions to claim power, analysts said on Thursday.

They told The Jakarta Post that short-term interests would
instead prompt political parties to establish alliances ahead of
and after the Sept. 20 presidential runoff.

The nationalists-versus-Islamists dichotomy was no longer
relevant in explaining contemporary political developments, they
added.

"Such an idea is narrow-minded and apparently disregards a new
development that has unfolded over the last couple of years, in
which the demarcation between nationalist and Islamist groups has
become blurred," noted scholar Muslim Abdurrahman said.

He said such a polarization no longer existed, as was proved
by the July 5 presidential election, during which Muslims voted
for a candidate known for his nationalist outlook.

"A large number of Nahdlatul Ulama and Muhammadiyah supporters
voted for Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, ignoring instructions from
their respective parties to choose the candidates they endorsed,"
Muslim said, referring to the country's two largest Muslim
organizations.

He said voters had become politically mature and independent,
and could not be directed as easily to believe that traditional
alliances still mattered in politics.

As an ideology, nationalism had become obsolete owing to
constant pressure from the globalization effort, Muslim added.

"Political parties claiming to be fighters of nationalism are
seen as remnants of a bygone era.

"The same goes for political parties that promote Islamism.
People no longer believe that such parties will strive to promote
the cause of their faith," he said.

His view was shared by another Muslim scholar, Komaruddin
Hidayat of Jakarta-based Paramadina Mulya University, who said
the coalitions being formed recently were based only on short-
term interests.

Major and minor parties are exploring coalition possibilities
of the runoff.

An executive of the Golkar Party said it was ready to form a
coalition with the National Awakening Party (PKB) and the
Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) after PKB leader
Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid thawed his three-year chill relations
with PDI-P leader and incumbent Megawati Soekarnoputri.

Megawati, who is up for a reelection bid against key rival
Susilo of the upstart Democratic Party, is reportedly planning to
hold a similar meeting with National Mandate Party (PAN) leader
Amien Rais in the near future over a possible alliance.

It is also likely the United Development Party (PPP), led by
Vice President Hamzah Haz, will throw its weight behind Megawati.

"You can see that leaders of some Muslim-based parties (like
Gus Dur, Amien and Hamzah) are also approaching Megawati. How
will you explain within this context that Islam is against
nationalism," Komaruddin said.

He said the moves were an effort at making power-sharing
arrangements in the next government.

Komaruddin, who also chairs the official Election Supervisory
Committee (Panwaslu), said people would not be bothered by the
cross-ideological alliances as long as it was intended to create
an effective government.

He underlined that political pragmatism had moved parties away
from the traditional division between Islamism and nationalism.

"There has been a healthy trend in the last couple of years,
during which all boundaries have become obscure. We have seen
candidates known for their Islamist views team up with those who
have secular orientations," Komaruddin said, referring to Amien
Rais' pairing with running mate Siswono Yudhohusodo, and Susilo
with Jusuf Kalla.