Marcellus Hernowo — As well as celebrities and
family members of core political party leaders, the
provisional list of legislative candidates that will
take part in the 2009 general elections also
contains a number of 1998 student movement
activists. Is this one of the positive signs coming
out of the process of democratisation in Indonesia,
particularly in relation to the cadreisation of the
national leadership?
1998 activists, who have become legislative
candidates, include among others former People’s
Democratic Party (PRD) chairperson Budiman
Sudjatmiko and activists Pius Lustrilanang and
Desmond J. Mahesa. The last two were also victims
who survived the abduction of pro-democracy
activists in 1997-1998.
Their decision to become legislative candidates is
as if they want to follow in the footsteps of their
colleagues who have already “tasted” a seat in
parliament such as Anis Matta (Justice and
Prosperity Party) and Nusron Wahid (Golkar Party).
As part of preparations to win a legislative seat,
Sudjatmiko has opened offices in Cilacap and
Banyumas in Central Java, the electoral districts
where he will be competing in the 2009 elections. At
both offices he is focusing on communications and
meetings with various local social organisations
such as youth, farmers and students.
“Coincidentally I was born and grew up in Cilacap.
In 1990-1994, I was also involved in the
organisation of plantation workers and farmers in
the area so it is relatively easy for met to come to
Cilacap and Banyumas, and struggle for the wishes of
the residents of these two areas if, in the end I am
able to get a seat in the DPR [House of
Representatives]”, explained Sudjatmiko.
Sudjatmiko’s struggle to become a member of the DPR
began on December 3, 2004 when he along with 51
colleagues in the PRD decided to become members of
the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P).
“I became involved in practical politics, in this
case a political party, because in order to bring
about real reforms it requires political power. If
in the past I struggled through demonstrations, now
hopefully [it can be] through the DPR”, he said.
An almost identical view was expressed by the former
general secretary of the National Gathering of 1998
Activists (Pena 98), Adian Napitupulu. “One of the
recommendations of the Pena 98 National Meeting in
June 2007 was to try to get into the legal political
arena in order to ensure that there would be the
reforms that had been anticipated. Because, after
reflection, up until now our movement has had one
particular deficiency, that is we did not have the
capacity to implement policies. We are trying to
overcome this problem by getting into parliament”,
said Napitupulu.
As a part of implementing this recommendation,
continued Napitupulu, members of Pena 98 have now
become legislative candidates in 23 provinces, both
for the national as well as regional parliaments,
with various rankings on legislative candidate lists
and with different political parties.
Lustrilanang, one of the victims that survived the
abduction of activists in 1997-1998, has also
decided to become a legislative candidates for the
Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra Party)
because in his view, political power is required in
order to carry out reform.
When asked about leading members of Gerindra, such
as former army special forces (Kopassus) commander
Prabowo Subianto and former National Intelligence
Agency (BIN) deputy chief Muchdi Purwoprandjono [who
is now standing trial for the premeditated murder of
human rights activist Munir], two former Indonesian
military officer who had to relinquish their
positions because they were believed to have been
responsible for the abduction of activists in 1997-
1998, Lustrilanang answered, “In politics there are
no eternal friends or enemies. Besides, their
involvement in the case has already been resolved
legally”.
Moreover, continued Lustrilanang, his joining the
Gerindra Party is part of an effort at national
reconsolidation, which is an important model that is
required for Indonesia to move forward.
“Among those that now claim to be reformists, there
are also many whose bearing is the same as the New
Order [regime of former President Suharto],
obstinate and authoritarian. So, in the end, it all
depends upon the person, and their commitment”, he
asserted.
Prior to joining the Gerindra Party, Lustrilanang
once became a member of the PDI-P and the Democratic
Renewal Party (PDP), as well as establishing the
National Unity Party (PPN).
As well as being motivated by the ideal of carrying
out reform, there are also activists who have
decided to become legislative candidates because
they want to obtain political experience. “Aside
from wanting to learn, there happens to be the
opportunity [offered by the] 30 percent quota for
women [on legislative candidate lists] so I took
advantage of it,” said the executive director of the
Institute for Public Research and Advocacy (Elsam)
Agung Putri.
Cadreisation
There are also the consideration within the current
democratic environment that it is quite legitimate
for an activist to become involved in practical
politics, because it is a part of their political
right as citizens. Their decision to become
legislative candidates is considered important for
the cadreisation of the national leadership.
Under an open political system such as exists now,
shouting and screaming is not enough to improve the
life of the nation, providing correction from
outside the system. It requires good and quality
people to join in the system in order to improve it
from within.
Moreover, they are convinced that Indonesia’s
reawakening will take place faster if there is
intensive networking and communication between those
who are inside and those who are outside the system.
On the other hand however, the inclusion of young
activists on legislative candidate list with a track
record that is still relatively clean also benefits
the political parties that sponsor them. These
activists can provide “cover” for the poor records
of these political parties in the past. Moreover,
political parties can be seen as “reformist” or to
be promising change. Such an image of course, is
needed to bolster the number of votes they will
receive in the 2009 elections.
The presence of these former activists will also
enhance the bargaining position of the political
parties concerned if later on they have to form a
coalition or cooperate with other political forces.
In the end however, only the future will be able to
testify to the real and basic reasons for these
former activists becoming legislative candidates.
Is it really for tactical reasons, that is to more
effectively struggle to build a better Indonesia? Or
is it only for pragmatic reasons, that is because
they can’t resist the temptation of enjoying the
sweat rewards of power? Or, it could also just be
part of an effort to fulfil the desire for
adventure.
What is clear, is that 1966 activists Soe Hok Gie
once deplored the position taken by some of his
friends who began to forget their commitment because
they were too busy enjoying the comfort of riding in
a Holden sedan.
Hopefully such disappointments will not be
repeated...
1998 activists on legislative candidate electoral
lists:
Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P)
– Budiman Sudjatmiko (former People’s Democratic
Party chairperson)
– Adian Napitupulu (former general secretary of the
National Gathering of 1998 Activists)
– Agung Putri (Institute for Public Research and
Advocacy executive director)
Democrat Party
– Anas Urbaningrum (former Islamic Student Association
general chairperson)
Justice and Prosperity Party (PKS)
– Rama Pratma (former University of Indonesia
Student Senate chairperson)
Star Reform Party (PBR)
– Dita Indah Sari (labour activist)
Gerindra Party
– Pius Lustrilanang (victim of the 1997-1998
abductions)
– Desmond J. Mahesa (victim of the 1997-1998
abductions)
* From Kompas - August 26, 2008.
PRD activists who have changed their political clothes
During the era of Suharto’s New Order regime,
People’s Democratic Party (PRD) activists were very
popular. The socialist based organisation was known
as a group of young people who resisted Suharto.
During the era of reformasi however, they have been
unable to find a place for themselves and remain
unpopular.
The 1999 general elections were test case for the
PRD. As it turned out they failed to garner the 2
percent of the vote required to survive. Since then,
the PRD’s — which was so popular in the eyes of
students devoted to socialism — has gradually
dropped out of sight.
In the lead up to the 2009 legislative and
presidential elections, they tried to reincarnate
themselves with the name Papernas (National
Liberation Party of Unity). But, they failed to
register themselves with the General Elections
Commission. So, where are these prominent party
figures that were known as militants during the era
of the New Order?
Although they are not taking part in the elections,
a number current and former PRD cadre have chosen
their own roads to get into parliament. Former PRD
leader and the founder of the socialist orientated
party, Budiman Sudation, joined the Indonesian
Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P). Former PRD
general chairperson Yusuf Lakaseng now sits as one
of the central board of directors with the Star
Reform Party (PBR). Former PRD general secretary
Faisol Reza meanwhile picked the National Awakening
Party (PKB) as his political vehicle. Just recently
Papernas general chairperson Dita Indah Sari also
decided to join Lakaseng in the PBR.
The political faucet, which was opened wide after
the fall of the Suharto regime, gave birth to a
multi-party political system. It is this situation
that was one of the reasons that these movement
activists changed their political direction to one
that was more practical. "The parliament must be
filled with people who are sincere and clean," said
Lakaseng when contacted by the Indo Post last night.
Lakaseng has come forward as one of the PBR’s
legislative candidates for the Central Sulawesi
electoral district. The man born in the Parigi
Moutong regency says that there are several factors
that will be advantageous to his candidacy. This
includes the fact that there are still no people’s
representatives from the regency where he was born.
"I have been developing potential voters for the
last two years now", he added.
Lakaseng denies that there are basic ideological
differences between the PRD and the PBR, which is
ipso facto an Islamic party. According to Lakaseng,
the PBR has a socialist-religious base. In addition
to this, under the leadership of PBR general
chairperson Bursah Zarnubi, the PBR has provided
extensive opportunities to young people. "Young
people like me have been given the opportunity to
become members of the central board of directors,"
he said.
Another PRD activist who has joined and an
established political party is Aan Rusdianto (34). A
victim of the 1998 abductions of student activities,
he chose the PKB as his political vehicle. The man
born in Ciamis, West Java, and drop out from the
University of Diponegoro says that his reason for
joining the PKB was because of Nursyahbani
Katjasungkana, an activist and PKB legislator known
as a defender of women’s rights. But, soon after the
grassroots membership based party split, she was
dismissed from her position as the deputy secretary
of the Jakarta Special Province regional leadership
board.
As an “alumni of the 1998 abductions”, said
Rusdianto, he is not alone in the PKB. There are
also other victims of the abductions such as former
PRD leader Faisol Reza. In an email sent to the Indo
Post (the Java Post Group) last week, he claimed
that he is still a member of the PKB’s board of
directors in Parung (Bogor). Earlier, news reports
appeared saying that Reza had joined the Gerindra
Party (Great Indonesia Movement Party, established
former army special forces chief Prabowo Subianto).
"It is not true that I have joined the Gerindra
Party", he wrote.
But, why then did Dita Sari choose to join the PBR,
an Islamic based party? Sari does not have a problem
with this, because many of the PBR’s programs are in
accord with her idealism. Among others this includes
economic self-sufficiency that is not dependent upon
foreigners, the option of abolishing the foreign
debt and economic development in rural areas as a
priority.
Sudjatmiko, who has not been active with the PRD
since 2001, said that the spirit of reform in a
democratic framework still requires parties as
political vehicles. "Idealistic struggles cannot be
carried out from outside the fence," he asserted.
Like Sari and Lakaseng with the PBR, or Reza joining
the PKB, Sudjatmiko also has a justification for
joining the PDI-P. "The PDI-P is taking up the
issues of nationalism, pluralism and populism, it
seemed, to be closest to my vision", he said.
(cak/nas/pri/tof)
* From Indo Post - August 7, 2008.