3rd Congress of the Indonesian Democratic Party

The Third Congress of the Indonesian Democratic Party (Indonesian: Kongres III Partai Demokrasi Indonesia (PDI)) was held between 15 – 18 April 1986. The congress lasted longer than planned on 17 April 1986, due to the riots that caused the failure of the congress to decide the new Central Executive Committee (Indonesian: Dewan Pimpinan Pusat) (CEC) of the Indonesian Democratic Party for the 1986-1993 period.[1]

3rd Congress of the Indonesian Democratic Party
15 April 1986 (1986-04-15) – 18 April 1986 (1986-04-18)
Host country Indonesia
CitiesJakarta
ChairFS Wignjosoemarsono

The congress was opened on 15 April 1986 at the Sasono Langen Budoyo building, Taman Mini Indonesia Indah, Jakarta. The congress was attended with the president and vice president of Indonesia, Soeharto and Umar Wirahadikusumah, the ministers of the Fourth Development Cabinet, chairpersons of state organizations, ambassador of foreign countries, chairman of the United Development Party (PPP) and Golkar, and around 1,250 participants of the congress.[2]

Background

The initiative for the congress was implicitly raised by the Minister of Internal Affairs, Soepardjo Rustam, on his speech in the 12th anniversary of PDI on 11 January 1985 at the Women's Building. He argued that the fusion of political parties in 1973, and the acception of Pancasila as the single ideology of political parties in 1983, caused friction in the factions of the political parties, and thus depicting the extreme differences in the political orientation of the party. Even though factions were officially abolished by the agreement of all PDI central CEC a day earlier, the chairman of PDI, Soenawar Soekowati agreed that to abolish factions "up to the grassroots", PDI should held a national meeting.[3]

A stronger urge to hold a congress was delivered by Hardijanto Sumodisastro as the chairman of the Central Executive Council of PDI. The congress was required to refresh the CEC of the party.[4] The idea of holding a congress was supported by the majority of the party's CEC, who wanted to resolve all of the party's conflict through the congress, and stating that anyone who refused to hold the congress violated the party's constitution.[5] Still, several branches of the party, most notably the Jakarta branch,[6] refused to hold a congress, on the grounds of membership problems in the party.[7]

The conflict for the need of a national meeting ended in November and December 1985. The discussion was whether to hold a congress or a national conference. Since the end of October, the East Java Branch of PDI has urged the CEC to hold a congress.[8] The head of the Lampung Branch of PDI urged that the national conference should be held first, and the congress to be held after the 1987 elections.[9]

A meeting about this matter was held on 1 November 1985. The meeting was attended by 14 of the 15 ranks of PDI, only not to be attended by Wignyo Sumarsono, one of the heads of PDI. In the meeting, nine ranks of the party, including Wignyo, agreed to hold a congress, while six agreed to hold a national conference. Even though the ranks who agreed to hold a congress gained a majority, the meeting did not resulted in any decision.[10]

This argument eventually split the ranks of PDI into two different group, the group that supports congress, consisting of nine ranks, including the sick Muhidin Nasution, and the group that supports national conference, consisting of six ranks.[11] The congress group declared their intent to hold a congress on 12 November, signed by eight ranks, excluding Muhidin.[12] The group criticized the head and the general secretary of the party which supported the national conference, for not adhering to the party's constitution.[13] The congress group held a meeting on 30 November 1985, and formed a committee to hold a congress. Meanwhile, the national conference group held a meeting on 4 December 1985.[11] Ironically, the meeting ended with the group agreeing to hold congress, thus ending dissent in the party.[14]

Even though the CEC of the party agreed to hold a congress, twenty branches of the party still insisted on the national conference.[14] To face this, on 6 December 1985, the CEC consulted with the Minister of Home Affairs, Soepardjo Rustam, about the congress. The consultation discussed about the organization of the congress.[15] Further preparations of the congress were discussed with President Soeharto on 14 March 1986,[16] and Vice President Umar Wirahadikusumah on 22 March 1986.[17]

Preparation

Problems

One of the main problems which would be discussed in the congress was the regeneration of the CEC. The young generation of the political party argued that the process of regeneration has to be held with the basis that the maximum age for the chairman position is 55 years old. The young generation also argued that there should be a classification for the CEC in three groups based on age: 30–45 years old, 45–50 years old, 50–55 years old. This argument was opposed by Mohammad Isnaeni, the first chairman of PDI, stating such grouping can cause syndicalist anarchy inside the party, and may ruin PDI's plan for the 1987 elections.[18] Meanwhile, several figures of PDI, such as Aberson,[19] Suryadi,[20] and several branches of PDI,[21] agreed for the regeneration process.

Other problems that continually plagues PDI since its first congress is about the incomplete fusion of the party. The PNI faction inside the party dominated the matters of PDI. The PNI faction rejected the argument, claiming that the problem is caused due to the PNI faction being the largest faction inside the party and other parties, such as IPKI and Murba has a smaller base of support.[22]

Prior to the congress, there were four empty offices. Three of the offices: Soenawar Soekowati (chairman), Muhidin Nasution (head), and Indra Bakti (head), was caused due to the death of the holders, and Mohammad Isnaeni (head) was caused due to his appointment as the Ambassador of Indonesia to Romania. The empty offices were decided to be left empty until the formation of a new CEC in the congress.[23]

Nominations

Prior to the congress, several names were nominated as the chairman of PDI. The names were sorted from the largest popularity, based on a survey conducted a day before the congress.[24]

  • I Gusti Ngurah Gde Jaksa
  • Suryadi
  • Yusuf Merukh
  • Hardjantho Sumodisastro
  • Mohammad Isnaeni
  • Achmad Subagyo
  • Sutoyo[25]
  • Probosutedjo[25]

Congress

Opening

The congress members were from Jambi, Riau, North Celebes, East Java, Central Java, West Sumatra and Lampung. They expressed their disappointment by confronting Sabam Sirait, the General Secretary of PDI, and Achmad Sukarmadidjaja, when both entered the congress building, Sasano Langgen Budaya. Other congress member from Jambi, Muhammad Thayib, persuaded the members outside the building to return "rather than being humiliated".[2]

The opening ceremony began with the Indonesian national anthem, moment of silence, and the PDI March. After the songs, President Soeharto delivered his speech to the congress, and followed by Soeharto hitting the gong three times, as a symbol that the congress had been opened. After that, Soeharto was given the PDI placard by Wignyo Sumarsono. After giving the placard to Soeharto, Wignyo Sumarsono delivered a speech to the congress.[2]

After the opening ceremony, Soepardjo Rustam gave a speech to the congress titled "The Development of PDI in the Future and Our National Political Development". In his speech, Soepardjo stated that "internal conflict in the political party may cause the obstruction in the development of PDI as an independent party." The speech was followed by the speech of Benny Moerdani as the Commander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces, titled "Framework for the Platform of National Development".[26] Benny delivered his seven appeals and hopes to the congress, ranging from the execution of the congress to the role of PDI to success the 1987 elections.[27]

Candidates

During the congress, there were two names that had the strongest chance to seat the chairman office, Suryadi and I Gusti Ngurah Gde Jaksa. They became the strongest candidate due to their "purity" from the past and recent conflicts inside the PDI. Both were considered to be acceptable by the government and PDI. Other minor names that were still considered having a chance is Mohammad Isnaeni and Hardjantho Sumodisastro.[28]

Closing failure
Sabam Sirait, one of the "disappearing" ranks in the congress.

Prior to the congress, the event organizers had planned to close the congress on 17 April 1986 at 19.30 am, in the Sasono Langen Budoyo building. The plan was delayed due to the stalemate of the meeting in PDI to form a new CEC for the next term. The stalemate became worse with the "disappearance" of Yusuf Merukh as the head of the congress, Sabam Sirait as the general secretary, and Sumario as the chairman of the Central Java Branch of PDI at 16.00. The disappearance of the three was responded by the participants with insults and screams. The CEC explained to the participants that the disappearance was due to the consultations of them with Soepardjo, but several participants still did not believe the explanation.[29] Eventually, on 18.00, Eddy Sukirman, as the chairman of the Party Consultative Assembly, declared that the closing was canceled.[30] The cancellation was told to the Vice President of Indonesia earlier on 17.45.[29]

Although the news was declared, the majority of the guests did not know about the cancellation. Many guests still arrived on 19.00, such as Soepardjo Rustam, Sudharmono as the Chairman of Golkar, Moerdiono as the Minister of State Secretariat, and several delegations of foreign countries. The PR of Vice President of Indonesia had issued the speech text of the Vice President since 16.00. The text was received by the media and re-issued to their publisher.[31]

Finally, at 20.00, the guest began to return, except Soepardjo, which was still there to hold a meeting with the CEC of PDI since 20.15. Yusuf, Sabam, and Sumario still did not attend the meeting. On the meeting, Soepardjo scolded one of the CEC, MB Samosir. MB Samosir apologized and asked the meeting to be continued. Soepardjo then asked Sabam and Merukh to met him. Eventually, Sabam and Merukh met Soepardjo in private at 22.20. The meeting ended at 00.15 with Soepardjo asking that the congress must be closed tomorrow at 17.30, with him representing the vice president to officially close it.[29]

Closing

Even though PDI had discussed the candidates for the new CEC formation, PDI failed to formed a new CEC. Prior to the closing, the CEC of PDI held another meeting from 13.00 until 15.00. The congress was eventually closed on the decided date by Soepardjo. On the closing of the congress, the party decided to handover the formation of the CEC to the Ministry of Home Affairs.[32] The handover was the first time in history of Indonesia the formation of a party CEC was handed to the government. The formation by the Ministry of Home Affairs marked a de jure intervention of PDI by the government.[33]

Reaction

The disorganized closing of the congress caused outrage in PDI. Steve Nafuni, the chairman of the Irian Jaya branch of PDI, stated that the congress was a setback from the previous congress. A harsher critic was delivered by the PDI delegate from Blora, that stated that "the chaos of the closing can be considered as a crime done by the old CEC of PDI for wasting 150 million spent by the regional government."[32] Ipik Asmasubrata, the chairman of the Jakarta branch of PDI, cursed the congress by saying "The mess occurred due to the incompetent[lower-alpha 1] CEC of the party. I am embarassed." Ipik and other delegations from East Java, Bali, and Lampung, blame Sabam and Merukh about the failure of the congress.[34]

A softer reaction came from outside PDI. Sudharmono and Soepardjo Rustam stated that "the congress was the best effort by PDI, and all cadres of PDI should bear the results".[35] Nurhasan Ibnu Hajar from the United Development Party, stated that the congress was a sign that the fusion inside PDI was imperfect, and the party required another generation to complete the fusion.[36] Other figures, such as Amirmachmud, the chairman of the People's Representative Council, claimed that the failure of the congress was due to "a third party intervention by extremists who want to weaken PDI".[37]

Formation of CEC

The ministry promised that the formation of CEC would involve consultation with the members of PDI, and discussion with the CEC of PDI.[33] Soepardjo planned that the ministry would execute the consultation in two waves, as "vertical" and "horizontal" consultation.[38] The first wave, ths "vertical" consultation would be ran from 19 April until 23 April, with the branches of the party from different provinces consulting with the ministry.[39] The next wave, the "horizontal" consultation, would be ran from 23 until 29 April, with the outgoing CEC of the party met the ministry.[40] The plan was to announce the formation prior to the fasting month, which would start on 9 May.[39]

After the consultation, the ministry began to work on the formation since 29 April. The formation was requested by PDI figures to be held by young cadres of the party. Another consideration was to eliminate Sabam and Yusuf from the formation, who some considered them to disrespect the party by "disappearing during the crucial minutes".[39]

Announcement
Suryadi, the elected chairman of the congress.

On 2 May 1986, the formation was officially announced by a short ceremony on Wisma Karya Senayan in Jakarta, attended by Soepardjo Rustam, the old CEC of PDI, and the chairman of branches of PDI. The papers filled with the names of the chosen was handed over by Soepardjo to Wignyosoemarsono, and he read the names of the chosen to show up into the room.[41]

Those who were chosen did not expect themselves to be chosen. For example, Benuhardjo, the chosen vice treasurer, was called by the ministry staff to attend the meeting in Jakarta, while he himself was in Jogjakarta. Fortunately, he managed to buy a Garuda airplane ticket to Jakarta. Others shared a similar story, but only Suryadi, the chosen chairman, had anticipated this.[41]

Composition of the Central Executive Council of PDI
(1986-1991)[42]
Position Name Element[lower-alpha 2]
Chairman Suryadi PNI
Head Benedictus Nahot Marbun Catholic Party
Sukowaluyo Mintohardjo IPKI
Nur Achari Murba
Yahya Nasution IPKI
Dudy Singadilaga PNI
Vice Head Anjar Siswoyo PNI
Marcel Beding Catholic Party
Parulian Silalahi Parkindo
Fatimah Achmad PNI
Djufri IPKI
Royani Haminullah IPKI
General Secretary Nico Daryanto Catholic Party
Vice General Secretary Titi Juliasih PNI
Dimmy Haryanto Catholic Party
Anwar Dato PNI
Treasurer Lencang Parkindo
Vice Treasurer St. Benuhardjo Parkindo
Steve Nafuni Catholic Party
Markus Wauran Catholic Party

Notes
  1. Original text in Indonesian quotes his statement as brengsek. Brengsek literally means bastard or scumbag.
  2. After the congress, the term "faction" was obsolete, replaced by "element".
gollark: Yes, I agree.
gollark: Yes, exactly.
gollark: Good in theory if you know basically nothing about humans, perhaps.
gollark: I don't think it's very good in theory if it's got a giant problem you could easily see coming.
gollark: If you ask other people, even other leftists, I don't think they'll agree very much on what it actually means.

References
  1. CSIS 1986, p. III
  2. "PDI: Berilah Kami Kepercayaan". Antara. Jakarta. 16 April 1986.
  3. "Mendagri dalam HUT XII PDI: Perilaku Politik Masih Sering Menggambarkan Perbedaan Ekstrem". Kompas. Cirebon. 11 January 1985.
  4. "Ketua DPP PDI: Pergantian Pengurus Lewat Kongres". Sinar Harapan. Jakarta. 19 September 1985.
  5. "Yang Menolak Kongres PDI Melanggar AD/ART". Berita Buana. Jakarta. 5 October 1985.
  6. "Wakil Ketua DPD PDI DKI: Pikiran untuk Menyelenggarakan Kongres PDI Menggelikan". Berita Buana. Jakarta. 23 September 1985.
  7. "DPD PDI Jakarta Anggap Belum Mungkin Kongres dan Munas". Pelita. Jakarta. 12 November 1985.
  8. "DPD PDI Jatim Desak DPP Adakan Kongres". Merdeka. Jakarta. 24 October 1985.
  9. "Kongres PDI Sebaiknya Setelah Pemilu". Merdeka. Jakarta. 12 October 1985.
  10. "Tentang Munas Dan Kongres: DPP-PDI Belum Sepakat Ambil Putusan". Merdeka. Jakarta. 1 November 1985.
  11. "Kelompok Kongres dan Kelompok Munas PDI". Kompas. Jakarta. 2 December 1985.
  12. "8 Pimpinan PDI Keluarkan Pernyataan". Merdeka. Jakarta. 12 November 1985.
  13. "Ricuh Soal Kongres Atau Munas: Ketua dan Sekjen PDI Tak Berpegang Kepada Konstitusi Partai". Berita Buana. Jakarta. 27 November 1985.
  14. "Sabam dan Sunawar Setuju Kongres PDI Tetapi Minta Anggaran Dasar Dihormati". Sinar Harapan. Jakarta. 4 December 1985.
  15. "Akhirnya, Kongres untuk PDI". Kompas. Jakarta. 6 December 1985.
  16. "Presiden: PDI Agar Utamakan Persatuan dan Kesatuan Partai". Kompas. Jakarta. 14 March 1986.
  17. "Menghadapi Kongres III PDI Hendaknya Lebih Dewasa". Kompas. Jakarta. 22 March 1986.
  18. "Moh. Isnaeni: Pemaksaan Proses Regenerasi Bisa Timbulkan Anarki Sindikalisme". Berita Buana. Jakarta. 26 March 1986.
  19. "Menurut Tokoh PDI Aberson: Kepemimpinan PDI Sekarang Bukannya Berkembang Justru Menurun". Berita Buana. Jakarta. 27 March 1986.
  20. "Suryadi: Berikan Kesempatan yang Muda Pimpin PDI". Pelita. Jakarta. 27 March 1986.
  21. "Tersingkir, Generasi Muda PDI Tak Berakar — Kongres Gugat Persoalan Regenerasi". Pelita. Jakarta. 11 April 1986.
  22. "Masih Sulit Menggeser Dominasi PNI Dalam Kepemimpinan PDI". Sinar Harapan. Jakarta. 9 April 1986.
  23. "Kepemimpinan Kolegialitas DPP PDI Tak Perlu Dipermasalahkan". Kompas. Jakarta. 27 January 1986.
  24. "Menjelang Kongres Ke-3 PDI: Gde Djaksa Dan Suryadi Bersaing Ketat". Merdeka. Jakarta. 14 April 1986.
  25. "Probosutedjo Juga Dijagokan Jadi Ketua Umum PDI". Sinar Harapan. Jakarta. 11 April 1986.
  26. "Kericuhan Dalam Parpol Merupakan Kerawanan Bagi Ketahanan Nasional". Sinar Harapan. Jakarta. 16 April 1986.
  27. "Presiden Soeharto Membuka Kongres III PDI: Keanggotaan Kekuatan Sospol Berdasar Kader Tidak Berarti Proses Depolitisasi". Kompas. Jakarta. 16 April 1986.
  28. "Dari Kongres PDI ke-III: Nama2 Gde Jaksa dan Surjadi Nominasi Teratas". Berita Buana. Jakarta. 17 April 1986.
  29. "Yang Terjadi, "Tutwuri Hamba Jadi": Mendagri Marah dan Minta Kongres PDI Ditutup Petang Ini Pkl. 18.30". Sinar Harapan. Jakarta. 18 April 1986.
  30. "Gagal, Kongres PDI Menyusun DPP Baru Semalam". Pelita. Jakarta. 18 April 1986.
  31. "Kongres PDI Ricuh Dan Panas Penutupan Oleh Wapres Batal". Suara Karya. Jakarta. 18 April 1986.
  32. "Kongres PDI Gagal Menyusun Pengurus". Suara Karya. Jakarta. 19 April 1986.
  33. "Kongres III PDI Berakhir: Kepengurusan DPP PDI 1986/1993 Dilimpahkan kepada Pemerintah". Kompas. Jakarta. 19 April 1986.
  34. "Harapan Warga PDI: Semoga Ini Kejadian Yang Pertama Dan Terakhir". Kompas. Jakarta. 21 April 1986.
  35. "Komentar Mendagri dan Mensesneg: Maksimal, Kongres PDI Tanpa DPP". Pelita. Jakarta. 21 April 1986.
  36. "Fusi Dalam PDI Belum Tuntas". Merdeka. Jakarta. 21 April 1986.
  37. "Ketua DPR/MPR Amirmachmud Menilai: Kegagalan PDI dlm Menyusun Pengurus karena Campur Tangan Pihak Ketiga". Berita Buana. Jakarta. 22 April 1986.
  38. "Penyusunan DPP PDI: Konsultasi Putaran Pertama Selesai". Merdeka. Jakarta. 24 April 1986.
  39. "Belum Final, Susunan DPP PDI Baru: Bisa Muncul Pihak Ketiga yang Tak Diperhitungkan". Pelita. Jakarta. 23 April 1986.
  40. "Mendagri Pagi Ini Konsultasi Dengan DPP PDI Demisioner". Suara Karya. Jakarta. 24 April 1986.
  41. "Drs. Soerjadi Ketua Umum PDI, Daryanto Sekretaris Jenderal". Kompas. Jakarta. 3 May 1986.
  42. Zulkifli 1996, p. 65

Bibliography
  • CSIS (1986), Kongres III PDI [Third Congress of PDI] (in Indonesian), Jakarta: Information and Data Bureau, Centre for Strategic and International Studies
  • Purba, Jhon Rivel (2009), Fusi PDI: Masalah Yang Dihadapi serta Keberhasilannya dalam Pemilu 1987 dan 1992 [PDI Fusion: The Problems and Their Success in the 1987 and 1992 Elections] (in Indonesian), Medan
  • Zulkifli, Arif (1996), PDI Di Mata Golongan Menengah Indonesia [PDI in the Eyes of the Indonesian Middle Class] (in Indonesian), Jakarta: Grafiti Publishing
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