Max Lane
Of the 19 parties contesting the July Indonesian presidential elections that are not currently represented in the parliament, eight are regarded as critical of the major parties.
These are the Vanguard Party (PELOPOR), the National Buffalo Awakening Party (PNBK), Indonesia National Party — Marhaenist (PNI-M), the Social Democratic Labour Party (PSDB), the New Indonesia Party (PIB), the Partai Merdeka (Freedom Party), and the Justice and Welfare Party(PKS).
PELOPOR, the PNBK, and the PNI-M — none of which have a high media profile — all draw on a populist left-leaning interpretation of the writing of former president Sukarno.
PELOPOR's manifesto calls for "placing democracy in the hands of the people; reducing economic dependence on foreign institutions; prioritising improvement of the educational and health system; ensuring that farmers in Java have at least two hectares of land; pushing foreign and local corporations to increase their contribution to their respective communities; and introducing collectivism to replace capitalism."
The Social Democratic Labour Party (PBSD) has been the long term project of Muchtar Pakpahan, who was prominent as a labour movement personality in the 1990s, having been jailed by Suharto for opposing the regime's suppression of trade union rights. Pakpahan is also chairman of one of the larger unions in Indonesia.
The PBSD has been campaigning to depict itself as the party of workers and has recruited a number of union officials. The PBSD is presenting a moderate social democratic critique of neoliberal policies. It does not have a large profile.
The New Indonesia Party (PIB), headed by economist Dr Syahrir, combines support for classic neoliberal policies with support for political liberalism and tougher anti-corruption policies. Syharir has been quoted as saying that the PIB is aiming to win 3% of the vote, enough to enable Syahrir to stand as a presidential candidate.
The PKS, formerly the Justice Party (PK), has been the most active on the streets of all these parties. Its leadership is drawn from Islamic fundamentalist-oriented professionals and believes in a state based on Islamic law.
Unlike the other fundamentalist parties, however, its street protest actions have opposed corruption of the Megawati government, continuing influence of the Suharto-era cronies, and cases of political repression. The PKS organised the main mobilisation of about 300,000 people against the United States attack on Iraq.
In parliament, the PKS has tended to block with Amien Rais' party. The recently formed Alliance of Labour against Rotten Politicians included the PKS in its list of rotten parties because of its voting record on anti-union laws.
Given the complicated proportional system, a party that can score 2%, perhaps even less, may be able to win seats in the House of Representatives.
If the Sukarnoist parties and Pakpahan's PDSB win seats, this may mean some kind of "left-of-centre" voices in the parliament. The PIB and the Freedom Party may also be critics on issues of democratic rights and corruption. However, none of have shown developed left policies.
The real significance of such voices in the parliament may lie more in their interplay with the extra parliamentary opposition — the Peoples Democratic Party, the left-of-centre NGO groups and the student movement.
From Green Left Weekly, March 10, 2004.
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