Who needs to be represented by Christian political parties?

Who needs to be represented by Christian political parties?

Christians make up 9.62 percent of Indonesia's population of
more than 200 million. Do they need to be represented by
Christian political parties? The Jakarta Post reporters Ati
Nurbaiti, Dwi Atmanta, Sugianto Tandra and contributor Herry
Nurdi explore the issue.

JAKARTA (JP): Just like Muslims who have established at least
13 parties based on Islamic tenets, Christians have also set up
theirs, arguing the need for representation.

There are at least two parties carrying the name "Christian"
or "Catholic", namely the Indonesian Christian National Party
(Krisna) and the Democratic Catholic Party (PKD). Some other
parties only vaguely reveal their Christian/Catholic identities.

The establishment of Christian parties has prompted comments.
Some people believe setting up a party bearing the word
"Christian" is a big mistake. They think Christians should join
existing parties instead of setting up their own parties with
uniquely Christian labels, an act leading to exclusivity.

Alexandra T.W., 18, a Christian secondary school student and a
first-time voter in the upcoming election, said she does not know
much about Christian parties registered as participants in the
upcoming elections.

She said what is important to her is there is a party which
can accommodate her aspirations as a Christian. The establishment
of Christian or Muslim parties, she said, would only give
prominence to differences.

"It is not necessary, in my opinion, to establish religion-
based parties because they will only make differences more
prominent," she noted.

Unlike Alexandra who is a first-time voter, Yustinus Priyono
,50, a retired civil servant, was always required to vote for
Golkar in previous elections and believes the presence of
sectarian political parties would benefit old parties which favor
the status quo.

"The people will be divided with the presence of many Islam-
based parties and also Christian parties," he said. "If the
people are divided, it would be easier for pro-status quo forces
to win them."

He said sectarian political parties should not be divided
into, for example, the Indonesian Christian Party and the
Democratic Catholic Party. Even in the absence of Christian
parties, he said, he was ready to vote in the upcoming election
because he found a party to his liking.

Commenting in the same vein, Andreas Priadi, 28, a Catholic
university student, is of the opinion that the foundation of
Christian parties will only confuse laymen. It seems, he added,
the presence of sectarian political parties has segregated the
Indonesian people into different camps.

Slightly different from the three people quoted above is
Yoseph, 35, a security guard from Flores who has lived in Jakarta
for 10 years and also voices his agreement to the establishment
of Christian parties.

"In this reform and democratic era, I agree to the
establishment of Christian parties."

The presence of these parties, he said, would allow the
Christians to have their own choice to channel their aspirations.

Separately, political observer Alexander Irwan said: "We can't
generalize actually, whether or not Indonesian Christians or
Catholics need a party based on Christianity or Catholicism."

"But indeed there are circles within the Christian community
who want political parties of their own, which they can control,
parties which can be the vehicles to voice their aspirations and
concerns," he said. "It's the same with Muslims who established
their own parties."

Alexander said many of his Catholic friends did not appear to
be interested in voting for existing Christian parties. "It's
because they don't see the parties as having clear programs that
reflect their economic and political concerns."

"Besides, the parties do not have figures who attract
sympathy. Worse, no clear agenda has shown up on issues such as
East Timor, military operations, land reform or protection of
women workers.

"So in short, I see that such Christian parties would only
attract fanatic Christian voters whose numbers I figure will not
be significant."

Gustav Dupe, a Protestant social worker, gave a harsher
comment on the issue. "To me, those who founded Christian-based
parties are misguided people. Such political parties are not
needed," he said.

"Yes, there may be some among the Christian community who want
to relive the nostalgia of a time when Christian-based parties
like the now-defunct Parkindo shared a state position and power.

"But I am pessimistic the parties would get significant
support from Protestants as those with a good political
understanding would rather choose nationalistic parties, like
Jacob Tobing who joined the PDI Perjuangan," he said.

Dupe believes only "narrow-minded Christians" would vote for
the Christian parties.

According to the 1995 data of the Ministry of Religious
Affairs, Muslims make up 87.21 percent of the country's
population, followed by Protestants (6.04 percent), Catholics
(3.58 percent), Hindus (1.83 percent) and Buddhists (1.03
percent).

Profile

The following are the profiles of political parties bearing
the name and symbols of Christianity and participating in the
upcoming June 7 general election.

* Indonesian Christian National Party (Krisna)

Allotted No. 2 in the list of 48 poll contestants, this party
has as its logo the green casuarina tree (the Christmas tree)
with a red cross in the middle of a white circle. The green
casuarina tree symbolizes world peace and welfare. The red cross
shows that Christians are ready to sacrifice themselves for the
sake of the nation and the country, while the white circle is the
symbol of Indonesia's unity and union.

This party, headed by Clara Sitompul as its general
chairperson, was late in presenting the list of their legislative
candidates to the General Elections Commission (KPU).

Based on Pancasila, this party has been established for a
number of purposes, which are, among others, to maintain the dual
role of the Indonesian military for the sake of stability and
development.

The party founders also claim they wish to help the government
meet people's demand, particularly in the economic, political and
legal areas.

Although the party openly states itself as a Christian party,
the Krisna Party states in its statute rules that it is open to
all Indonesian citizens.

In the defense and security sectors, this party wishes to
establish the militia, provide community protection and develop
partnership with all ranks of the Indonesian Military (TNI) in
ensuring people's security.

*The Democratic Catholic Party (PKD)

During the New Order era, political parties were fused into
two only, a situation making certain communities unable to find
the right organization through which to channel their political
aspirations. The Catholic Party was one of the parties which had
to undergo this fusion then.

The new PKD was declared on Aug. 21 in Jakarta. Although
bearing the word "Catholic", PKD is not the continuation of the
Catholic Party of the Old Order era.

Founders said PKD has been established, among other things, to
uphold and fight for human rights based on loving kindness.

PKD wishes to ensure the Republic of Indonesia will remain a
unitary state. It also upholds nationalism. In the defense and
security sectors, unlike the Krisna Party, PKD backs the
establishment of a professional Indonesian army and supports the
new paradigm of the Indonesian Military (TNI).

Led by its general chairman, Marcus Mali, PKD promises to
fight for the establishment of a strong civil society while in
the economic sector it will strive toward the creation of a
democratic economic order.

Despite its excellent programs, PKD admits that in the
upcoming elections it won't be able to have much say. Yet, the
establishment of this party will be able to accommodate the
aspirations of Indonesian Catholics, who were subjected during
the New Order period to alienation.

*The Love the Nation Democratic Party (PDKB)

Although it does not bear the word "Christian", one can
intelligently guess that PDKB, declared in Jakarta on August 3,
1998, and based on Pancasila, has been founded to accommodate
the aspirations of Indonesian Christians.

Assigned No. 14 on the list, this party uses as its symbol
stems of a rice plant and a cotton plant with a white dove over
seven rays in a blue circle. These seven rays represent the
values of truth, justice, honesty, loyalty, sincerity,
pioneering, solidarity, harmony and courage.

To this party, the Habibie administration is not a legitimate
one because not all of the people recognize it.

In the coming elections, PDKB will nominate Megawati
Soekarnoputri of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
Perjuangan) as its presidential candidate.

With 17 regional and 30 branch executive boards, PDKB is
convinced that in the upcoming elections it will be able to
secure 10% of the total votes. PDKB's struggle will be
concentrated upon political, legal, economical, social and
cultural matters.

Former East Timor governor, Mario Viegas Carrascalao, joined
this party. Carrascalao had left the country for Portugal
following tensions between warring factions in East Timor.

In the political arena, PDKB will fight for people's wide
participation in politics among others, by allowing people to set
up political organizations suiting their aspirations. Even the
number of parties to be set up and their names will not be
stipulated in a law. The party will see to it that people will
play a stronger role in decision-making. Therefore, the party
will allow people to stage demonstrations as a way to channel
their aspirations.

In the economic sector, PDKB will fight for and develop small-
scale businessmen and cooperatives with a view to raising the
earnings of the poor and at the same time narrowing down economic
and social gaps. (Herry Nurdi)