PRD: President Yudhoyono’s Second Term at One Year; No Sign of Progress, Time for A Change in Direction

Kamis, 21 Oktober 2010 | 14:58 WIB · 0 Komentar

To respond to one year of President Yudhoyono and VP Budiono government on October 20, 2010, the People’s Democratic Party (PRD) released a press statement in Jakarta (19/10) stating that SBY-Budiono government has not made any progress and instead has shown some slumps in various fields, particularly politics, economy, social and culture.

It explained that within a year running the government, Yudhoyono-Budiono have made the economy worse off, in which foreign corporations control such areas as mining and petroleum (± 80%), banks (± 50%), industry, services, and 70% of shares in the capital market.

In addition, the growth of the domestic industry continues to decline and was recorded to be only 3.5%, the lowest in 10 years. “De-industrialization is a real phenomenon happening in front of our eyes,” said PRD Chairperson, Agus Jabo Priyono.

People’s economy, that now relies on agriculture and small businesses (home industry, and informal businesses), is devastated by the invasion of big retails, such as Circle K, Alfamart, Seven-Eleven, etc., that have penetrated the rural areas.

According to PRD, the national economy or people’s economy makes up only 20% of national market share, while big foreign and domestic corporations control 80%.

In the political sphere, the PRD considered that Yudhoyono-Budiono government has failed to establish a strong, independent, clean, and democratic government .

Foreign involvement in the preparation of legislation, the unpopular leadership style of Yudhoyono-Budiono, and the widespread corruption in the bureaucracy, are the “major holes” of Yudhoyono’s failures on the political field.

“Instead of fighting corruption, Yudhoyono instead gave corruptors special treatment and remission,” said Agus Jabo.

The social and cultural failures are very prominent as Yudhoyono has clearly been incapable of protecting people’s freedom of belief, and suppressing the widespread violence, as well as preventing the emergence of inter-ethnic or tribal friction.

The PRD has also highlighted the failure of SBY in building a dignified foreign policy, based on free and active foreign policy line.

“SBY is degrading the nation when practicing the policy of subordination under Washington, not having the courage to stand firm in the border dispute with Malaysia, and failing to raise the prestige of Indonesia before the nations in the world,” he explained.

A Change in Direction is A Must

PRD concluded that the main cause of various problems above is the implementation of neoliberal policies in Indonesia.

“Neoliberalism has been proven failed in other countries and is begining to be abandoned. While in Indonesia under SBY-Budiono government, it is believed as an absolute dogma,” said Gede Sandra, the General Secretary of PRD.
He said that this situation is forcing the people to choose the only option to get out of the troubles, that is changing the direction of the economic system.

“Since a long time ago PRD has asserted that we need a change in direction, i.e. leaving everything that smells of neoliberalism and imperialism and reasserting political, economic, and cultural sovereignty,” he said.

Gede Sandra also asserted that the way out is not cabinet reshuffle, but “a change in the system and the state apparatus”.

He views that cabinet reshuffle would only be a political bargaining tool, not only among political parties that support the government, but also between opposition groups.

PRD calls on the people’s movement to organise their forces, as the right and possible way to put an end to neo-liberalism.

PRD will start a consultations with the people, by garnering signatures for a motion of no confidence against Yudhoyono-Budiono neoliberal government.

“The motion will be circulated by activists from door-to-door in villages, settlements, factories, so that we can campaign and consult directly, head-to-head, with the people” he said. (transl: Risma)