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)