What are new parties up to?

By Ignatius Haryanto

JAKARTA (JP): Just like water gushing forth when a clogged tap is suddenly opened, the people's craving to set up political parties is at the height of its intensity.

In less than two weeks, at least nine groups have turned into political parties. The Musyawarah Kekeluargaan Gotong Royong (MKGR) has declared itself a political party, followed by Partai Karya Ulama Indonesia (the Indonesian Ulemas Functional Party). The two groups were previously affiliated to the ruling political grouping Golkar.

They have been followed by Partai Syarikat Islam Indonesia (the Indonesian Islamic Association Party), formerly part of the United Development Party (PPP). There is a plan to set up Partai Pekerja Indonesia (the Indonesian Workers Party). Sri Bintang, meanwhile, will proceed with his Partai Uni Demokrasi Indonesia (Indonesian Democratic Union Party) which was illegal under Soeharto's administration.

Other names are also emerging on the list of new political parties.

For over 20 years, the people have been familiar only with three political parties: a very powerful government party, Golkar and two other minor parties, the PPP which in the last two years has taken over the mantle of the main opposition, and the Indonesian Democratic Party, which is at present badly fragmented.

The people actually have only a little understanding about political parties in the sense that the existing parties still have to express themselves in a way conforming to the public's demands. The logical consequence of community members joining a political party is that both sides -- the public and the parties -- now assume responsibility.

The party will fight for the people's aspirations, listen to their complaints and even make itself a vehicle to pressure the government with respect to its own interests. In return, party members will vote for their party in elections.

However, how have political parties fared in recent times? Have they gained recognition by listening to the public's aspirations, fighting for their interests and becoming pressure groups?

In the latest elections and the General Session of the People's Consultative Assembly in March 1998, political parties cheated the people rather than represented them.

The public's appeal for a change of leadership was dismissed by political parties which simply maintained the status quo. When the era of reform was ushered in by the students, the existing political parties suddenly claimed that they were also instrumental behind changing the political landscape.

It is clear these parties are rapidly becoming obsolete. The more conservative they become the quicker people will abandon them.

The ball of reform will continue rolling, thanks to the student movement, which emerged uncontaminated by an interest in power and forced Soeharto to step down.

The emergence of new political parties is an interesting phenomenon. There are worries that it signifies the return to sectarian politics that will lead to political instability as in the 1950s.

For sure a party will take, as its point of departure, its main constituent, for example a religious group. One can find in Indonesian history since early this century that there have always been groups acting on behalf of religious groups.

However, in this case efforts must be made to maintain the balance between the interests of a group of people as party exponents and those of broad segments of the community. The upcoming elections will tell whether or not parties of this type will succeed in recruiting large numbers of supporters.

As for those who are worried that the 1950s political instability will return, one must first bear in mind that there are at least two factors distinguishing the situation in the 1950s from that of the late 1990s.

First, the national education level is much higher now than in the 1950s. Despite the economic difficulties, the people have become more critical in deciding which values are really essential to hold on to. The decision now is to choose between political parties or basic commodities.

Second, the people are still stumbling through the hangover of political emasculation. A more profound survey must be conducted to find out whether broad segments of the public are really enthusiastic about setting up political parties.

It may well be that this is only the aspiration of certain circles, say, the middle class, who have long drawn up a certain political agenda, be it in the interests of social welfare or in pursuit of power.

Furthermore, in the 1950s the many political parties did not necessarily lead to frequent riots, violence or even murder of political rivals. Indonesia's first election in 1995 was the most democratic one ever. Disputes took place elegantly through writing discourses and in the parliament without any side resorting to rallying criminal mobs or inciting destruction. The atmosphere of a festivity, the New Order rhetoric, was indeed fully experienced in this first general election.

Nevertheless, one must place hope in the newly emerging parties. They can be expected to listen more closely to the public's complaints and aspirations and should not simply sell their ideals in the pursuit of power.

What is urgently needed now is a party oriented toward the creation of a more democratic community with social justice, one that defends the interests of workers and is characterized with better respect for human rights, for laws and fair trials and also for the environment.

In any case, as researchers at the National Institute of Sciences have stated, elections are tests of a party's acceptability and vehicles for the circulation of the political elite.

Political leadership is not a given privilege of a particular group, but rather the result of hard-won trust from the people through earnest efforts to listen to their aspirations.

Parties or groups of people considering themselves capable of being involved in a fair competition will have an equal in it.

When they do all these things, the political leaders will be providing the community with political education which is pure and the public will become politically mature.

It is also at this juncture that the rich potential of the nation, perhaps only buried all these years, will show itself and be put to a test, leaving finally only new figures sincerely concerned with the interests of broad, not simply limited, groups of people.

In the end, the nation will act as the fair judge over the latest turn of events. In its own way, it will express its own interest and trust in the latest twist of political events. Obsolete figures who have considerably harmed the interests of the people need no longer be praised and those who have neglected their own people will deserve condemnation.

As for the new leaders, people will soon find out who is capable of keeping price increases in check and making basic necessities readily available.

The writer is the chairman of the Jakarta-based Institute for Press and Development Studies.

Window: The emergence of new political parties is an interesting phenomenon. There are worries that it signifies the return to sectarian politics that will lead to political instability as in the 1950s.