YKPK pledge to promote democracy
YKPK pledge to promote democracy
JAKARTA (JP): The newly established National Brotherhood Foundation has pledged to strengthen democracy in the country while staying out of party politics.
The foundation, known by its Indonesian acronym YKPK, was founded in Jakarta on Oct. 23 by a group of respected senior public officials and has been endorsed by a number of top cabinet officials.
YKPK secretary-general Matori Abdul Djalil said on Saturday that while the foundation has no intention of fielding candidates for the 1997 general election, it will fight to reform the laws governing political parties.
He stressed that participation of the people is critical to democracy.
"The only alternative to our political system is democracy," he said. "The government will only receive support from the people if they are allowed to participate in supervising its activities."
Matori pointed out that because the foundation will focus on social and cultural activities, it will not nominate anyone for the 1997 general elections or the presidential elections the following year.
"We'd rather concentrate on establishing systems for the general election and presidential succession than mention any names," he said.
YKPK, he stressed, is not a political organization. Its members are concerned more with growing individualistic attitudes and the competition that has polarized various groups in society.
"We will soon prepare our immediate and long term programs," he said, adding that seminars and leadership training programs are being developed.
The foundation was established by 67 influential public figures, including former government and military officials.
Matori was formerly secretary-general of the United Development Party. Its chairman is Lt. Gen. (ret.) Bambang Triantoro, formerly Armed Forces chief of social and political affairs. Other leading figures in the foundation include former House speaker Kharis Suhud, Moslem leader Dahlan Ranuwihardjo, intellectual Harsya Bachtiar, and former Catholic party leader Frans Seda.
Matori denied that YKPK would be less effective in fulfilling its goals having a foundation status.
"The success of an organization will be determined chiefly by its ability to carry out its designed activities."
He also denied the suggestion that YKPK leaders purposely timed the establishment of the foundation while President Soeharto was out of the country to avoid having to ask for his permission or blessing.
"It was simply a matter of finding the best moment to establish an organization," he said.
The founders had originally hoped to announce the establishment last May, timed with National Awakening Day, and then again in August to coincide with Independence Day. On both occasions they failed to make the necessary preparations on time, Matori said.
"We finally decided that October was the next historical month," he said. (imn)