Lukmanul Hakim/GB, Jakarta – Monday has seen the reemergence of mass action as a force in Indonesia's political development. One of the oldest and most influential mass action groups, the People's Democratic Party (PRD), which has come out on the side of bringing those guilty under the former regime to justice above all else, has been accused of accepting money to support the embattled President.
As reported previously, Pro and Anti-President Wahid groups have converged on the city centre bringing traffic to a halt along Jl. Thamrin and Subroto right out to the parliament complex in south central Jakarta. Security personnel attempted to keep demonstrators out of the parliament grounds, were rushed and then fired tear gas. Demonstrators regrouped and the push and pull continues as this news goes on line.
One of the most prominent groups, the PRD, was in the thick of it all. PRD demonstrators marched through Jakarta from Tebet, down Jl Sudirman, to the famous HI roundabout and on to the parliament.
During a brief stop at the Danamon Aetna Life building on Jl Sudirman where PRD leaders were giving orations, PRD Chairman Budiman Sudjatmiko took a moment to deny to Detik that they had been bribed by other parties.
"That's not true," Budiman said passionately. The bribery issue- to the tune of 2 billion rupiah (USD 213,400) – has been circulating for sometime and appears to have originated from a submission to a mailing list. The piece in question claimed the PRD and other groups had been bribed by a faction of the military known to be close to the President which has currently been sidelined within the defense force.
"They, the ones spreading that story, only want to delegitimise the PRD. And that definitely won't be effective," Budiman continued.
Budiman explained that their action was not primarily concerned with the event which has sparked massive demonstrations across the country – the release of the findings of the Buloggate – Bruneigate special committee.
Many suspect the committee was formed as a mechanism to pressure and oust Wahid. They are set to announce their findings today and confirm the President's involvement in the two scandals which involve the misappropriation of around USD 5.8 million from the state. Thousands of demonstrators have rallied at the parliament Monday, most either calling for Wahid to stand down or defending him.
The PRD and many others, however, have chosen to protest against the entrenched power of the "remnants" of the New Order regime of former president Suharto. These parties and their new running mates in the parliament are largely responsible for the establishment of the special committee. Their ongoing power and the lack of political will from other parties to get rid of them has lead to increasingly disturbing political, economic and social repercussions, Budiman said.
"The New Order at the moment already controls economic resources, human resources and the House of Representatives has been made into the Trojan horse," he added. "The House has made the people forget this by blowing up the Bulog and Brunei cases," he said.