How do we deal with those barrier

Certainly, the repression does give impact to our works. To meet our targeted structure, Members of National Liberation Party of Unity (PAPERNAS) both in National and regional will be deployed to the area where PAPERNAS structure has not been established.

It has been a years, since preparatory process to Party establishment, PAPERNAS faced with various repression and intimidation. Putting forward the Party’s program that is called as three Banners of the National Unity (Repudiation of the Foreign Debt, Nationalization to mining and oil industries) is considered as a crime action.

Responded to the emergence of new alternative party and its program, FPI, FAKI or any group who are identified themselves as anti-communist group has been act repressively to stop Papernas our new party to flourish. Numbers of our activity from the founding congress in Jogjakarta , The regional conferences, to the mass action were repressed and intimidated. The latest is the assault to Papernas members in Central Sulawesi by military members.

Moreover, Prominent Islamic Cleric in Tuban established Friendship Forum to Safeguard Pancasila and the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia Against the Threat of Neo-Communism and declares to oppose PAPERNAS.

Another Barrier is a new political bill to maintain the domination positions of power despite of Traditional parties, such as Golkar Party and Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP), despite the fact that their performance has been far from satisfying,

This anti-democratic bill designs to render new political party to flourish. In order to get registered as the election candidate any political party must deposit five billion Rupiah (US$ 500.000). Furthermore the party must establish its structures (committees, office branch and office equipment) in 66% of the entire number of provinces , 75% of the total district and 50% of the sub district. The party will be drop from election registration if the party lack one of the structure.

How do we react to these Barriers?

Repression Papernas peaceful convoy on March 29, 2007 encouraged the independent advocates to help Papernas in preceding the legal case. On April 2, 2007 , 23 advocates who could not tolerate the violation to people’s political rights voluntarily established An Legal aid team for Papernas (TAHUP)

On April 4, Papernas with TAHUP reported the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) Betawi Brotherhood Forum (FBR) to the Metro Jaya regional police. Papernas filed a report on the violation of freedom of expression," police ignorance to such violation. PAPERNAS also submit the report expropriation on our political rights to the National Commission on Human Rights.

In certain level, the repression delays the works to extend the structure. However admit this repression Papernas has established in 134 districts, 561subdistrict. However to anticipate the forth coming bill, PAPERNAS targets to build the structure correspond to the new bill. In the province level, Papernas has met the requirement. However, Papernas must extend the structure to another 124 districts and 932 sub districts. To meet this target, Some members of national leadership together with regional leadership will be deployed to the district or sub district where the structure has not been established.

(* Katarina Pujiastuti)