Workers set up party to form democratic govt

Workers set up party to form democratic govt

JAKARTA (JP): Seizing on the new government's promise of
greater political freedom, a group of labor activists inaugurated
the Indonesian Workers Party (PPI) yesterday, and expressed their
readiness to challenge Golkar and other leading political parties
in the next general election.

The founders said the objectives of the party were democratic
governance and a civil society that respected human rights and
equality for all.

The declaration was read out by Salam Sumangat, the secretary-
general of the logging and forestry sector union in the
Federation of All Indonesia Workers Union (FSPSI). Twenty labor
activists, including former labor minister S.K. Trimurti, former
FSPSI chairman Imam Soedarwo, FSPSI deputy chairman Wilhelmus
Bokha, and Alexander Sinaga, chairman of the FSPSI Jakarta
chapter, were signatories to the statement.

Both union chairman Datuk Bagindo and deputy chairman Marzuki
Achmad were notably absent. Both are members of Golkar, the
ruling political organization.

Sumangat said the party had been established in anticipation
of political changes brought about by the reform movement.

"The party's inauguration is aimed at setting up a democratic
government in the country. We must create a democratic and civil
society that respects civility, decency and human rights,
including the rights of the workers," he said.

Sumangat claimed the party enjoyed the support of 60 million
workers whose aspirations have for years been neglected by the
government.

"Workers were exploited, their rights were not respected and
they were not able to share in the fruits of development during
Soeharto's 32-years of corrupt governance," he said.

Bokha said the party would be ready to challenge Golkar and
other political parties in the next general election, which pro-
reform groups have demanded be held within six months.

"We will stage an all-out battle to win the general election
and improve the welfare of the workers. If a labor party can
govern in Britain and Australia, why not in Indonesia?" he said.

Bokha, who is a renowned and outspoken advocate of workers
rights, said total reform in all spheres of life was absolutely
essential. He added that the labor union had joined ranks with
those campaigning for a special session of the People's
Consultative Assembly (MPR), a fresh general election, and the
establishment of a new government.

He said that before a general election could be held, the five
political laws on general elections, the People's Consultative
Assembly (MPR), the House of Representatives (DPR) and political
organizations should first be reviewed.

"More political parties should be permitted over and above the
three existing political organizations," he said.

The existing law on political organizations only recognizes
Golkar, the Moslem-based United Development Party (PPP) and the
Christian-nationalist Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI).

Bokha said a team of seven people, including himself, had been
working on the statutes of the PPI. They plan to register the
party with the Ministry of Home Affairs in the near future.

The party plans to hold a maiden congress to elect an
executive board and draft a manifesto, but Bokha did not mention
when this would take place.

Sofyati Mukadi, a signatory to the statement, said the PPI
would also design programs to fight corruption, collusion and
nepotism and promote human rights and labor conditions in the
country.

"The party will fight for total reform in all fields, for
human rights and the presence of independent and democratic labor
organizations," she said.

She said the party would be also open to all people,
regardless of their ethnic, religious and educational
backgrounds.

"The party... is open to all citizens regardless of their
ethnicity, religion and education, because our common objective
is to develop the country into a great nation that loves peace
and high civilization," she said. (rms/aan)