Jakarta – Although the wave of protests and street actions have raised strategic issues, the government of President Megawati Sukarnoputri and Vice-President Hamzah Haz has yet to be shaken. This is because the opposition movement is not prepared to work together.

This was the main point of a speech by the Chairperson of the People's Democratic Party (PRD), Haris Rusly Moti, at a public meeting organised by the National Coalition at the Proclamation Monument in Jakarta on Sunday.

Before around 500 workers, students and party activists, Haris Moti said that removing Megawati and Hamzah Haz will obviously not be as easy as bringing down former President Abdurrahman Wahid (Gus Dur). The reason, because the parliament and the military do not wish Mega and Hamzah Haz to step down at this time.

Not wanting to sit down together

However what is most important, said Haris Moti, is that groups in the opposition movement who have come out into the streets have not been prepared to work together. For example, they do not wish to unite or sit at one table. Budiman Sudjatmikjo who was succeeded by Haris as the chairperson of the PRD, also criticised the present student movement which will not learn from the movement of 1998.

"Students need to be prepared to join with workers and other people's movements. Do not repeat the errors of 1998, when students formed their own groups so that the people were without leadership and the riots and burning occurred". Haris Moti hoped that students would now be prepared to join with the ordinary people. "Students mustn't just be immersed on the campuses or meet in hotels. Join with workers and the people", he said.

Haris Moti also said that the past opposition movement easily overthrew Gus Dur because it obtained legitimisation from the parliament. "Now, the political elite in the parliament want Mega to stay until 2004", he said.

The meeting which was designed to compete with a mass meeting of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle [Megawati's party] at the Bung Karno Stadium also presented student figures and opposition group leaders including Ricky Tamba from the National Coalition, Dita Indah Sari and Jusuf Langkasheng.

The event at the Proclamation Monument also provided drama and music which was played by workers from companies in Cakung and the Indonesian Buskers Union from Yogyakarta, was lead by singer I Bob Arief.

The appearance of Bob Arief refreshed the public meeting which could not be attended by Abdurrahman Wahid. Hundreds of workers and student activists danced reggae to accompany a song by Bob Arief. (osd)

[Translated by James Balowski.]