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Indonesia may outlaw some political parties

Source
Reuters - July 16, 1998

Jakarta – An Indonesian minister said some political parties which have sprung up in recent months will not be legally recognised, the Jakarta Post reported on Thursday.

The government will not allow parties whose membership is limited exclusively to ethnic, religious or societal groups such as ethnic Chinese, tribal groups and women, the newspaper quoted Home Affairs Minister Syarwan Hamid as saying.

"At the moment we haven't banned any, but later they will be selected in accordance to the regulations which apply," Hamid was quoted as saying. Earlier this month, Hamid said the government would not limit the number of political parties allowed to operate in Indonesia.

Since former president Suharto resigned on May 21 amid mounting calls for political reform and the country's worst economic crisis in decades, more than 30 parties have registered with the Home Affairs Ministry in anticipation of new laws expanding the number of parties allowed in Indonesia.

Before Suharto's resignation, only three political parties were legally recognised – the ruling Golkar party, the Christian-nationalist Indonesian Democratic Party and the Moslem-oriented United Development Party.

New, less restrictive laws on elections, parties and the structure of the legislature are expected to be sent to parliament for deliberation by the end of the month. President B.J. Habibie has promised to hold general elections in the middle of next year and a presidential election by the end of 1999.

[The following is a list of new political parties registered with the Director General of the Department of Home Affairs as of June 29. Posted by Gerakan Sarjana Jakarta (Jakarta Scholars Movement, GSJ).]

  • Indonesian National Christian Party/Partai Kristen Nasional Indonesia
  • Indonesian Islamic Union Party/Partai Syarikat Islam Indonesia
  • Indonesian National Party/Partai Nasional Indonesia
  • Indonesian Women's Party/Partai Perempuan Indonesia
  • Indonesian Human Movement Party/Partai Gerak Insan Mutaqin Indonesia
  • United 1945 Social Society Party/Partai Uni Sosial Kemasyarakatan 45
  • People's Sovereignty Party/Partai Kedaulatan Rakyat Indonesia
  • People's First-Rate Party/Partai Rakyat Prima
  • Party of the Indonesian People's Struggle/Partai Perjuangan Rakyat Indonesia
  • Indonesian Tionghoa Reform Party/Partai Reformasi Tionghoa Indonesia
  • Indonesian Muslim Society Party/Partai Umat Muslimin Indonesia
  • Indonesian Workers Party/Partai Pekerja Indonesia
  • Indonesian National Reform Party/Partai Reformasi Nasional Indonesia
  • Indonesian Diversity Party/Partai Bhinneka Tunggal Ika Indonesia (Bhinneka Tunggal Ika - Unity in Diversity, Indonesia's National Slogan)
  • Republican Party/Partai Republik
  • Indonesian All Workers' Solidarity Party/Partai Solidaritas Pekerja Seluruh Indonesia
  • Farmers' Prosperity Party/Partai Kemakmuran Tani
  • Poor People's Party/Partai Rakyat Miskin
  • Fishers People's Party/Partai Rakyat Tani Nelayan
  • Informal Sector and Unschooled Youth People's Party/Partai Rakyat Tani Usaha Informal dan Pemuda Putus Sekolah
  • Indonesian Association of Independence Supporters Party/Partai Ikatan Pendukung Kemerdekaan Indonesia
  • Indonesian People's Party/Partai Rakyat Indonesia
  • Indonesian Islamic Party/Partai Islam Indonesia
  • Reform Leaders Party/Partai Pelopor reformasi
  • Supporters Reform Party/Partai Pendukung Reformasi
  • All Indonesian Workers Union Party/ Partai Serikat Buruh Seluruh Indonesia
  • Love of Christ Chinese Reform Party/Partai Reformasi Cinta kasih Kristus Kebangsaan
  • Neighbourhood and Local Council Party/Partai Rukun Tetangga dan Rukun Warga
  • Country