July 13, 2002 11:18 PM, By the Editor

Frustrated Nationalists May Destabilize Mega

Laksamana.Net - Political tension is running high among the Jakarta political elite following President Megawati 
Sukarnoputri’s rejection of a special team to investigate the use of National Logistics Agency (Bulog) funds involving Golkar 
chairman Akbar Tanjung. 

More serious than just dividing her ‘Struggle’ Democratic Party (PDI-P) into two camps, the nationalist faction and PDI-P’s 
newcomers centred around businessman Arifin Panigoro’s Jenggala group, other elements are trying to get involved in PDI-P’s internal split. 

The political maneuver of Meilono Suwondo in forming a ‘communication forum’ as a sign of disappointment with Megawati was apparently just a first phase that some believe may lead to crystalization of the nationalist camp as a potential opposition group to Megawati. 

So far three PDI-P members from the nationalist camp have resigned as members of parliament in dissent over the policies of 
Megawati’s government: Sophan Sophian, Dimyati Hartono, and now Indiria Damayanti. 

Sources close to the nationalist camp within PDI-P told Laksamana.Net that dissatisfaction with Megawati reached a peak with the ascendancy of Arifin Panigoro and Zulvan Z.B. Lindan as the key figures in framing strategic party policy. 

“Meilono’s maneuver to form the communication forum and talk of a reform PDI-P is just a way of pushing Megawati to respond 
to our dissatisfaction,” the source said. 

He adds that the moves represent the conclusion of many nationalists that they no longer are able to influence PDI-P policy. 

Links to Golkar Nationalists 
Despite Meilono Suwondo’s background as an alumni of the Indonesian Nationalist Student Movement (GMNI), he is better known 
as the younger brother of Siswono Yudohusodo, also a GMNI figure and an ardent Golkar cadre since Suharto’s time. 

During the Suharto years, Siswono together with Ginandjar Kartasasmita represented the nationalist faction within Golkar, 
relying for its support on then Golkar Chariman and former State Secretary and Vice President Sudharmono. 

Nationalist politicians within Golkar or the government- influenced PDI under Suharto required the political blessing of Siswono and Ginandjar Kartasasmita to advance. Even functionaries of GMNI were required to have a link with Siswono and Ginandjar, especially at the national level. 

Ginandjar and Siswono and their acolytes were automatically nurtured by the generals close to Suharto and hostile or 
suspicious of Islamic political groups. 

Golkar cadres such as Siswono, Ginandjar and Theo Sambuaga were able to play significant roles in Golkar under Sudharmono and in the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), an institution strongly linked to Gen. Benny Murdani. 

Even when Maj. Gen. Wahono took over the Golkar chairmanship from Sudharmono, the nationalist faction linked to Siswono and Ginandjar still gained significant positions in Golkar. During this period, Theo Sambuaga as a promising young Golkar cadre, represented the nationalist faction. He was entrusted with the chair of Commission I of parliament, overseeing foreign 
affairs and defense. 

Ginandjar, Siswono and Sambuaga, all alumni of GMNI, developed close political connections with high-ranking officers who were nationalistic in their political outlook, and hostile and suspicious of Muslim political groupings. 

In an effort to balance the role played by the alumni of the Islamic Student Association (HMI) within Golkar led by Akbar 
Tanjung, the GMNI alumni in Golkar forged tactical political alliances with Golkar cadres closely connected with the military 
such as members of FKPPI (the Communication Forum of Sons and Daughters of Retired Officers). 

When Golkar, in the post-Suharto era, was finally taken over by the HMI group led by Akbar Tanjung, FKKPPI-linked Golkar 
members such as its former chairman Cahyo Kumolo and Wijanarko Puspoyo decided to join forces with PDI-P. 

This pair played a significant role when Golkar was chaired by Wahono in the period of 1988-1993 but, step by step, the 
nationalist wing of Golkar began to be sidelined in the wake of Harmoko’s rise to Golkar chairmanship with the strong support 
of B.J. Habibie and the HMI group. 

At the same time, the liquidation of the military faction linked to Murdani and the rise of those loyal to his successor, Feisal Tanjung, finally led to the complete loss of grip on Golkar by the nationalist wing. 

This wing, in cooperation with frustrated generals, offered silent support to potential challengers to HMI-Tanjung domination 
of Golkar, and especially to nationalist figures. 

Generals such as Sembiring Meliala, Hendropriyono, Theo Syafei, Agum Gumelar, Bambang Yudhoyono and Sutiyoso developed close connections with Megawati as the leader of the nationalists. 

These generals and the nationalist wing of Golkar-turned PDI-P had great expectation that Megawati could, under their 
influence, become the champion of their political interests, and their business aspirations. 

Now their expectations have proved to be illusory. The former nationalists of Golkar in PDI-P are disappointed that their 
agenda to make PDI-P a new Golkar has backfired. 

Instead, they now have to share the party with newcomers who are leading PDI-P into a strategic alliance with Golkar and with 
the Islamic-based parties in the Center Axis group. 

The dissatisfied generals are now joining forces with the frustrated nationalists within PDI-P as well as with disenchanted 
nationalists from other parties, including the supporters of Ginandjar and Siswono, as well as Golkar splinter parties such 
as the Justice and Unity Party (Partai Keadilan dan Persatuan/PKP) dominated by former ardent Golkar cadre Sutradara Gintings. 

The source from the nationalist camp told Laksamana.Net that the generals who used to support Megawati are now split. 
“Bambang Yudhoyono and Agum Gumelar no longer go hand in hand as they did in the past,” he says. 

Both failed in their bids to act as Megawati’s vice president, defeated by Hamzah Haz and the United Development Party (PPP), but Yudhoyono was given the strategic position of Coordinating Minister of Political and Security Affairs, while Gumelar was sidelined into the far less powerful Ministry of Communications. 

Analysts now believe that the dissension obvious among the nationalist wing of PDI-P will present new opportunities for the 
military. The old-style nationalists of PDI-P are seen as highly vulnerable to nationalistic sentiment and emotionalism 
driven by a military agenda. 

Conservative nationalists such as Sutardjo Suryoguritno, Royani Aminullah, Abdul Madjid, Subagyo Anam, Aberson Marle 
Sihaloho, Noviantika Nasution, lack real political training and are not adept at creating alliances with other political parties. Their nationalism is based on emotionalism and sentiment. 

Under such circumstances, these frustrated nationalists will find willing partners in the generals committed to restoring another Suharto-style regime. 

As one source told Laksamana.Net, “we held a meeting a few days ago in which a former minister who served under Abdurrahman Wahid warned us that to bring down Megawati now is very easy, but if we wait until the military is firmly in control, it will be a different story.” 

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