Call for new elections

After the new Indonesian president, B.J. Habibie, announced his cabinet on May 22, the banned People's Democratic Party (PRD) denounced it as representing little change.

"The cabinet is composed of New Order loyalists from the military and civilian bureaucracies, including representatives from the puppet Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) and United Development Party (PPP)", said Edwin Gozal, the Asia Pacific representative of the PRD.

"If anything, the military have been given an even more important political role. The ministers of defence, home affairs, information, transmigration and security and political affairs are all military leaders".

The PRD called on Indonesians to reject Habibie as president and to push the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), the Indonesian upper house, to hold an extraordinary session within one month.

The agenda which the PRD proposes for the MPR is:

• rejection of Habibie as president;

• repeal of the five repressive political laws (which allow only three political parties, prohibit political parties from operating in villages and small towns, entrench a rigged electoral system and prevent people changing the constitution;

• ending the military's involvement in political affairs;

• release of all the political prisoners;

• respect for the right of self-determination for the people of East Timor; and

• setting up a transitional government.

If the MPR refuses to hold an extraordinary session, the PRD calls for a general election be held within three months.

"This general election would have to be supervised by a transitional government composed of the different forces and individuals which have and are playing a critical role in the struggle against the dictatorship. They include the students, workers, urban poor, human rights activists and radical academics", said Gozal.

From GLW issue 319