M. Rizal Maslan, Jakarta – Government opposition figures gathered at the Century Park Hotel in the Senayan area of Central Jakarta on Saturday July 5 to discuss the problems of the nation, which may possibly become an arena of lobbying by the political elite in the lead up to the 2009 general elections.

The opposition and national figures gathered at the hotel in the context of commemorating Decree Day July 5, 1959 and at the same time to launch a new tabloid called the Indonesian Monitor.

Present at the event, among others, was the general chairperson of the People’s Conscience Party (Hanura) retired General Wiranto, the former commander of the elite Special Forces (Kopassus) retired Lieutenant General Prabowo Subianto and the coordinator of the Indonesia Awakening Committee (KBI), former economics minister Rizal Ramli.

“We want to bring together figures that have the same views about how to improve the national situation that is becoming increasingly worrying. Hopefully, following this event we will be able to unite the movement of the children of the nation who have a great commitment to improve this country. This will be parallel with the theme that we have taken up of ‘Return to Commonsense’”, organising committee chairperson Mulia Siregar told Detik.com prior to the event.

According to Mulia, the activity is also being supported by a number of national figures including, among others, former student activist Hariman Siregar, former chief economics minister Kwik Kian Gie, former state secretary Bondan Gunawan, former student activist and presidential confidant Suko Sudarso, Nahdlatul Ulama chairperson KH Hasyim Muzadi, Muhammadiyah chairperson Din Syamsuddin and the former Jakarta chief of police retired Major General Noegroho Djajoesman.

“They joined the ranks following an invitation,” said Mulia, adding that a number of old as well as new political party leaders had declared their readiness to attend. They include the deputy chairperson of the Gerindra Party (Indonesia Raya Movement Party) Fadli Zon, the general chairperson of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI) Party Sys NS, the secretary general of the National Sun Party Ahmad Rofiq (established by Muhammadiyah youth) and a number of non-government organisations and student activists in the Greater Jakarta area.

During a break in the event, Ramli took the opportunity to comment on a request by the Democrat and Golkar Party factions to postpone an interpellation motion against the government’s recent decision to increase fuel prices. He said that there are “systematic efforts to divert the motion” and he and others genuinely wish to fix the oil and gas sector. He also added that there is a ‘mafia’ that benefits from the importation of oil and that he was willing to reveal who they are.

Speaking separately, former People’s Consultative Assembly speaker Amien Rais said he supported the meeting. “We support this opposition to oversee the government and remind the government if it is neglectful and to set the government straight if it deviates,” he said at a book dissertation in the West Java provincial capital of Bandung.

- Moksa Hutasoit, Baban Gandapurnama, M. Rizal Maslan

Notes:

Decree Day (Hari Dekrit) – July 5, 1959 when Indonesia’s founding president issued a decree providing for a return to the 1945 Constitution.

[Abridged translation by James Balowski based on three reports in Detik.com on July 5.]