Jakarta – President Megawati's sister, Rachmawati Soekarnoputri, proclaimed here on Thursday the establishment of a new party, Partai Pelopor (Pioneer Party).
Speaking to the media after the announcement, Rachmawati said the party aimed to implement the teachings of Bung Karno, the late first president who is also her father, to create a just, prosperous, devout, nationalistic and democratic society. "Our ideal is to create a just and prosperous society. To achieve this goal, the leadership of a progressive, revolutionary party is needed. The revolution will not be finished before a just and prosperous society has been created," she said, as quoted by Antara.
She said that a sharp change of direction was needed as the way to overcome the current crisis in the country. "We have to return to the teachings of Bung Karno, which are commonly called Indonesian-style socialism or marhaenism," she said.
Asked why she was now turning to politics, Rachmawati, who has so far been active as head of the Bung Karno Education Foundation, said she had done it at her friends' request. She also said that by doing so she wished to be able to implement the teachings of Bung Karno along with her friends.
She also expressed concern at the current state of the nation. However, she was optimistic about the effectiveness of Bung Karno's teachings following the collapse of communism and capitalism. She said the present government had no clear vision and mission. The ruling PDIP had also turned away from the grass roots.
"I wish to ask Mbak [sister] Mega [the President] whether she is siding with capitalism or with the oppressed marhaens [grass roots]. I really wish to talk with her about it anytime," she said, adding that Megawati had never promoted Bung Karno's teachings.
The declaration was attended, among others, by former president Abdurrahman Wahid, who is also cofounder of the National Awakening Party (PKB), and the chief of the Bung Karno Nationalist Party (PNBK), Eros Djarot. Abdurrahman is listed as a member of the new party's advisory board.