Semarang – An Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) Reform Movement was launched at the Panti Marhaen Building on Jalan Brigjen Katamso in Semarang, East Java on Friday afternoon (11/2).

The event began with greetings from the committee, from the former chairperson of the East Java PDI-P Leadership Board, Mardijo, a reading of the declaration and greetings from the PDI-P’s former Research and Development deputy-chairperson Sukowaluyo Mintorahardjo. The statement – which was read by the People’s Representative Assembly/People’s Consultative Assembly (DPR/MPR) member from the PDI-P – in essence expressed concern over the condition of and developments inside the party.

The statement contrasted the increasingly irrelevant policies of the Central Leadership Board (DPP) with the wishes of the ordinary membership, and therefore they declared their support for a non-structural or undercurrent movement which desires reform within the PDI-P. In their statement they also called on the DPP to resolve the problems which they have created in various parts of the country during the upcoming 2005 PDI-P Congress in Bali. “Remember that these local problems have already turned into horizontal and vertical conflicts which have had the consequence of a drop in PDI-P’s vote in the 2004 general elections”, said Mintorahardjo.

In the name of the undercurrent of the PDI-P they also called on all of the elements of the PDI-P to be open, listen to their conscience as well as be active and astute for the sake of bringing about the reform that they are all hoping for.

Mardijo, who is also the former chairperson of the East Java provincial parliament (DPRD) took the opportunity to instruct the PDI-P members who will be delegates to the PDI-P’s congress to have the courage to speak the truth, because if truth is not accompanied with courage to speak out it will deliver nothing of value. “As PDI-P members, don’t be paranoid because [party leaders] have seats in the DPR and the DPRD, instead [you] must have the courage to state the truth [because] the truth is in accordance with [your] conscience”, he instructed.

He declared that if the PDI-P wishes to again be a party of significance it must be prepared to evaluate itself and be corrected, because without correction the party will fail. “Remember people don’t like a party which is arrogant, which pursues material [wealth] and power”, he said.

In Mintorahardjo’s greeting he touched on the issue of the prerogative rights of the chairperson of the PDI-P’s Central Leadership Board [former President Megawati Sukarnoputri] which have become an excuse by its leaders to maintain control the PDI-P. Make no mistake about it, within the party which won the 1999 elections (with 34 per cent of the vote) a hegemony has developed.

He said that that these prerogative right often discourage a spirit of democracy within the party itself, especially over issues of decision making. “It’s name is the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, but its democracy has become demo-crazy”, he said.

Tightly guarded

The event proceeded smoothly and was tightly guarded by police. Police wearing civilian cloths could be seen mingling with the thousands of people who packed the building. Meanwhile uniformed police officers were spread out around the Panti Marhaen Building complex, including officers in five trucks owned by the Semarang municipal district police.

Some of them were also on guard in front of the entrance to the meeting room, some on the 2nd floor of the Pancasila SMP Building – which is located not far from where the meeting took place – and some could also be seen on Jalan Brigjen Katamso, right in front of the entrance gate of the Gedung Panti Marhaen complex. (Ant/Nik)

[Translated by James Balowski.]