It’s still fresh in my mind, where Megawati’s PDI (Indonesia Democracy Party) harshly knocked-out by Suharto’s power in 1996. I was still 3 months since I set my feet on Jakarta from my hometown.
Everybody knew Megawati was a serious menace of Suharto’s Golkar at that time, and 1996 was only a year ahead of the election. Like previous elections, Golkar always wanted vote majority in order to keep Suharto in reign. Time could not be stopped and Megawati popularity has made the Suharto’s circle depressed. They seemed so fearful the Soekarno’s spirit was coming back.
With a very dirt scenario, Suharto’s regime created drama by conspiring with several PDI executives to organize a congress in Medan. The congress, as predicted clearly by everyone, finally appointed Soerjadi as PDI chairman, Fatimah Ahmad as deputy chairman and Butu Hutapea as the secretary general (Soerjadi is Megawati’s predecessor). It means, Megawati who had been selected by National Meeting in Surabaya in 1993, was kicked-out of the position as chairwoman. The government then gave a blessing on Soerjadi and team.
Soerjadi, backed by the government then forcefully seized the PDI head quarter in Jl. Diponegoro Jakarta. The bloody incident then popularly known as “27 July tragedy” where claimed so many lives (the exact numbers of the victims is still not clear till today). After the incident, Megawati had been attempted to take legal action against the government, but, it’s totally failed.
***
1997 had come, and general election was conducted. Many national figures suggested Megawati to boycott the election, but others also said it apparently would not create significant impact since the government already had a “puppet” PDI chaired by Soerjadi. In other words, general election would keep running because the 3 contestants were ready to participate.
Other figures suggested Megawati to campaign for blank vote (golput=golongan putih) 1). Arief Budiman said: “If Megawati asked her followers not to cast their vote, the blank vote numbers would increase significantly and it would make government fearful upon the election legitimacy.”
Everybody knew Megawati was a serious menace of Suharto’s Golkar at that time, and 1996 was only a year ahead of the election. Like previous elections, Golkar always wanted vote majority in order to keep Suharto in reign. Time could not be stopped and Megawati popularity has made the Suharto’s circle depressed. They seemed so fearful the Soekarno’s spirit was coming back.
With a very dirt scenario, Suharto’s regime created drama by conspiring with several PDI executives to organize a congress in Medan. The congress, as predicted clearly by everyone, finally appointed Soerjadi as PDI chairman, Fatimah Ahmad as deputy chairman and Butu Hutapea as the secretary general (Soerjadi is Megawati’s predecessor). It means, Megawati who had been selected by National Meeting in Surabaya in 1993, was kicked-out of the position as chairwoman. The government then gave a blessing on Soerjadi and team.
Soerjadi, backed by the government then forcefully seized the PDI head quarter in Jl. Diponegoro Jakarta. The bloody incident then popularly known as “27 July tragedy” where claimed so many lives (the exact numbers of the victims is still not clear till today). After the incident, Megawati had been attempted to take legal action against the government, but, it’s totally failed.
***
1997 had come, and general election was conducted. Many national figures suggested Megawati to boycott the election, but others also said it apparently would not create significant impact since the government already had a “puppet” PDI chaired by Soerjadi. In other words, general election would keep running because the 3 contestants were ready to participate.
Other figures suggested Megawati to campaign for blank vote (golput=golongan putih) 1). Arief Budiman said: “If Megawati asked her followers not to cast their vote, the blank vote numbers would increase significantly and it would make government fearful upon the election legitimacy.”
On 22 May 1997, several days ahead of election, Megawati stood before her followers who fully congregated in her house in Jalan Kebagusan Pasar Minggu Jakarta, declared: “I decided not to exercise my political right to cast my vote in the election.” It means, Megawati had to choose “not to choose” alias golput in the election. That was a very logic decision. After that time, the United Development Party (PPP), the Islamic based party, tried to woo the disappointed Megawati loyalist to cast their vote to PPP (popularly known with “Mega-Bintang” 2) slogan), however, Megawati clearly rejected because of the wide difference of ideology between the two parties.
As a minority, I was impossible to cast my vote to PPP. So, the options were only two, either Golkar or PDI under the traitor Soerjadi. As I so hurtful looked at Megawati who displaced by the very dirt conspiracy, I then felt so disgust to PDI’s Soerjadi. So, what would I do? Should I maintain my obedience as a good citizen to cast my vote? If so, which party should I choose? Is it Golkar? - the vehicle of dictatorship that shameless of doing everything for the sake of power? The party that blindly and arrogantly claimed that people is still behind them (at that time?)
In church, a couple days ahead of D-day of voting, my Pastor who was wearing a yellow coat said at the end of preaching: “Brothers and sisters, you all see what do I wear and why do I wear such attire like this. I just want to remind you the event next couple days. Just don’t forget this."
After the church service ended, many people walked out of the church and whispered about the statement. I assumed part of us was being confused. But I walked surely and convinced myself to follow Megawati 3). On the D-day, I went to the voting location, entered the voting booth, but punched nothing. I went out of the booth and put the ballot paper in the ballot box. I had become a golput in 1997 election. Please forgive me not to obey your fatwa, my Pastor.
Today we are surprised with fatwa (edict) issued by Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), who states that it’s haram (forbidden) to be a golput.4) But after thinking for a while, I decided to calm and not so reactive. It’s ok for MUI to issue a fatwa. Don’t be angry, my friend. That is MUI’s job, right? It is up to you whether to follow the fatwa or not, like what I did in 1997. Just do what you think is right. But you have to have a strong reason in decision to vote or not to vote. Are you being frightened by hell if you choose being golput?
Do you know what had happened to the regime that formed by 1997 election? Just remember the May 1998 tragedy – the most tragic of modern Indonesian history that I’ve ever seen.
***
Serpong, 28 January 2009
Titus J.
Note:
1. Golput - stands for “Golongan Putih”, is actually a term of abstention in an election procedure. It is mentioned as golput (white group) because people who not feel adequately informed (or comfortable) on particular issue, cast a blank (or white) vote. Blank vote is considered as protest vote.
2. Bintang (star) was PPP’s party logo. The “Mega-Bintang” slogan was suddenly appeared in the middle of 1997 campaign period to entice Megawati followers to pro PPP. It was not a coalition, but only a slogan which in reality not rising the PPP votes significantly in 1997 election.
3. In a statement recently, Megawati stated that people who choose to be a golput are not deserve to be an Indonesian citizen (WNI). The statement was made in Ambon when she campaigned for Karel Albert Ralahalu - Said Assagaff for governor of Maluku (Kompas, 5 July 2008). I deeply deplore her statement, and confuse she made such statement. I hope she remember what she did on 1997 election.
4. The suggestion for MUI to issue an edict to forbid a golput is suggested by Hidayat Nur Wahid, the People Consultative Assembly speaker and Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) chief patron. I don’t really understand why it’s dragged to religion.
5. In 1997 I was golput, but in this year election (2009), I will not, because I have had a choice.
Comments
Until now, there is none.
True, I might have abused my rights to vote by abstaining, but the politics in Indonesia is so dirty, voting results can get twisted and manipulated according to the strongest (wealthiest) party's will, so what's the point?
I also see there is no ideal party or presidency candidate at this time. We may dissapointed with this situation of our country, moreover by looking at the unproper demeanor shown by some figures, and their track record in the past. They even feel innocent, clean and too confident that only they can resolve all of our country problems. So funny.
However, in the wake of political disturbance right now, I personally think there is still any hope. I am worry if the moderate group prefer to abstain, the group in the opposite corner who always performing 'show of force' in radicalism and intollerant will be bigger.
But it makes me sick looking at the political parties ads on television, and their stupid billboards on the street.
They must think the majority of Indonesian people are so stupid not to be able to look past all the empty promises they make.
What makes me wonder even more is that, why is it that everytime they make television advertisements they always bring up the little people - as if they actually give a shit!
When in fact, it's THEIR fault that most Indonesians are still poor, uneducated and living in poverty!
It's sickening, really.