History repeats itself. It was Saturday, July 27, 1996, when supporters of a small faction in the Indonesian Democratic Party, led by Suryadi with the help of police and the military, attacked the headquarters of the party, which had elected Megawati Soekarnoputri as its chairwoman.

Earlier, with the full support of the New Order regime, Suryadi appointed himself as chairman, and declared Megawati’s party illegal. The attack fueled sympathy for Megawati, which led to victory for her PDI faction — renamed the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) — in the country’s first democratic legislative elections in 1999.

Now, it’s the other way around. The PDI-P is the ruling party, and it’s Golkar, once Suharto’s political vehicle, that is divided.

Aburizal Bakrie was re-elected as Golkar Party chairman in Bali this month with the full support of almost all branches. But with apparent support from the government — including explicit support from Vice President Jusuf Kalla — some of Golkar’s elite, who want the party to join the ruling coalition, elected Agung Laksono as their chairman at a
separate meeting.

We know Agung has no real support from party members and Golkar’s rift has been exaggerated just to unseat Aburizal. This way, the ruling coalition hopes Golkar can be brought in, and weaken their ultimate enemy: the Red-White Coalition.

But it’s a risky move, which will only boost Aburizal’s popularity, just as it did Megawati’s in 1996. And while many accused Aburizal of being undemocratic, this move is even worse.

The government already set a bad example with its failed attempt to divide and control the United Development Party (PPP). It shouldn’t do it again.

It should rather focus its energy to implement its programs for the betterment of the people.