Wanted: An effective opposition

Functional Group (Golkar) Party Chairman Akbar Tanjung stated recently that "... the former ruling party will in the future consider becoming an opposition party to provide Indonesia with a more balanced political system" (The Jakarta Post, July 20, 2000). Akbar Tanjung should be encouraged to implement his idea as soon as possible, because the absence of an effective opposition in the legislature has nearly paralyzed efforts toward democracy and reform. The creation of a national reconciliation government that included all major political parties but left none to play the part of the opposition, was certainly well intended by President Abdurrahman Wahid, but it turned out to be a failure.

Who does actually control this government of compromises? To leave the difficult and demanding role of an effective opposition to the media or to the students, for many reasons is not a satisfactory solution.

The Indonesian press has shown admirable courage by serving as an opposition during the last years of the New Order regime, despite the lack of press freedom and the risk of losing their publishing licenses. But times have changed since then. Apart from those journalists who responded to press freedom with a sense of responsibility, there are now many journalists who seem not to be very devoted to the ethics of their profession, to put it mildly.

The students, on the other hand, gave the world a shining example of bravery when they fought for freedom and justice. But it seems that after the downfall of Soeharto's New Order regime most of the students have not realized that there is a big difference between fighting a dictatorship and playing a corrective role in a democratically elected government.

But even if students and the press, together with NGOs and so called political observers, performed perfectly as an extra- parliamentary opposition, they could never be a substitute for a legitimate opposition within the legislature.

Golkar should not forget that they were for decades the political vehicle of the Soeharto regime, which ignored the interests of the people. Therefore, the party owes the people. Golkar's first step to make up for past mistakes should be to provide Indonesia with a badly needed opposition, holding the government accountable and causing it to implement more rational and consistent policy. This may contribute to political stability which is the precondition for sustainable economic growth.

A legitimate opposition in the legislature is imperative for upholding the values of democracy. Golkar would be well advised to give up its position in the government and accept the challenge to become an effective opposition. By doing so, Golkar would render the country a great service.

MRS. HILDE MAY

Jakarta