VP criticized for voicing party's interest

VP criticized for voicing party's interest

JAKARTA (JP): Despite the absence of laws regulating a
separation of party leaders from state leaders, political
analysts suggested on Monday that state leaders avoid
prioritizing their parties' interests.

"Should politicians become state leaders, then their loyalty
to their political parties must end," Bachtiar Effendy of the
Syarif Hidayatullah State Academy of Islamic Studies (IAIN) told
The Jakarta Post.

Bachtiar made the remark in response to statements made by
Vice President Hamzah Haz on the inclusion of the Jakarta Charter
in Article 29 of the 1945 Constitution during his official visit
to the East Java district of Jombang last weekend.

Hamzah, in his capacity as the chairman of the United
Development Party (PPP), insisted that the Jakarta Charter's
inclusion in the Constitution, which would mean the full
implementation of Islamic law for Muslims, would not be a threat
to other religions in the country.

Debate over the wording "obliging its followers to exercise
Islamic law" in the Jakarta Charter, the basic for the Preamble
of the 1945 Constitution, ended with the phrase being dropped out
of fear that it would cause religious fanaticism.

Bachtiar said he did not consider the statements extraordinary
as Hamzah had ascended to the vice presidency from his position
as chairman of PPP. "This might not be ethical. But how can he
forget the platform of his party?" he asked.

Frans Magnis Suseno of the Driyarkara School of Philosophy
said it was normal for state leaders to retain their position in
their political party as many democratic countries, such as
Britain, Germany and the Netherlands, also allowed the same.

He said all prime ministers and Cabinet ministers in those
countries continued to hold their position in a political party.

Former German chancellor Helmut Kohl, for example, remained
the leader of the Christian Democratic Party, while British Prime
Minister Tony Blair still holds on to his position in the Labor
Party, he said.

"Of course they fully understand their position. The
separation between a position in government and in the party is
not an obligation," Magnis told the Post by phone on Monday.

Instead of giving a clear-cut opinion, Magnis expected state
leaders to voice the nation's aspirations.

"I don't want to make a specific comment on the activities of
our political elite. It depends on the examination of the whole
population," he said.

Bachtiar shared Magnis' opinion, saying that the problem did
not lie in the issue or the President or the Vice President's
message during their official visit.

The most important thing to do is to modify the recruitment
process, he said, adding that positions in public office, such as
the presidency and vice presidency, should be filled through a
direct election.

"In the future, candidates running for president and vice
president should be elected through a direct election," Bachtiar
reiterated.

Bachtiar said both Megawati and Hamzah often sold the programs
of their political parties on their official visits as state
leaders.

He said that separating the position of party leader from
state leader would not aid the situation. Even if they quit their
parties, they will still have a close association with their
parties' platform, he said.

Bachtiar suggested that the nation develop a discourse on the
need to set up a direct presidential election. "Should the
president be chosen by a direct election, the debate on this
matter would be closed," he added. (08)