Socio Today
Tanjung Selor, Indonesia — In a vibrant display of cultural heritage and political mobilization, Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) Secretary-General Hasto Kristiyanto officially opened the joint Regional Conference (Konferda) and Branch Conferences (Konfercab) for the party’s structures across North Kalimantan. Held on Sunday, October 19, 2025, at the Luminor Hotel in Tanjung Selor, the high-profile event drew hundreds of party cadres, regional executives, local political party leaders, representatives of the North Kalimantan Governor, and the Chairman of the North Kalimantan Provincial Election Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu).
The opening ceremony blended political consolidation with the celebration of indigenous Dayak cultures. Attendees were treated to a series of traditional performances, including the Melewah Dance, Welcoming Dance, Bagentawai Dance, and Leleng Dance, alongside a ceremonial tumpeng-cutting ritual that underscored the party’s commitment to local traditions. Hasto was accompanied by a high-ranking delegation from the Central Executive Board (DPP) of PDI-P, which included Chairperson for Education Puti Guntur Soekarno, Chairperson for Election and Executive Victories Deddy Sitorus, and Party Spokesperson Aryo Seno Bagaskoro.
Conveying Megawati’s Message: A Mandate to Protect Kalimantan’s Forests
During his keynote address, Hasto delivered a personal message from PDI-P Chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri to the cadres in North Kalimantan, placing special emphasis on the indigenous communities who serve as the traditional guardians of the region’s vast tropical rainforests.
"The movement to care for the motherland must become a core culture of the party," Hasto stated, quoting the overarching ideological directive.
He urged party cadres to emulate Megawati’s historical dedication to the region. Recalling her travels in the 1990s, Hasto noted that Megawati had journeyed deep into the interior of Kalimantan, traversing rivers for days to meet with indigenous groups and grassroots party members. This historical anecdote was framed as a timeless reminder that PDI-P’s political legitimacy stems from its enduring connection to the natural environment and local populations.
Hasto issued a strong warning to regional cadres, advising them not to succumb to the temptations of capital-driven interests that prioritize short-term economic gains at the expense of ecological sustainability.
"The forests must be protected, maintaining their rich ecosystems and habitats. I ask all cadres to watch the video titled ‘Caring for the Motherland Megawati’ from her interview with journalist Rosiana Silalahi," Hasto instructed the audience, pointing to the importance of institutional memory regarding conservation.
Geostrategic Vision and Regional Significance
Moving beyond local environmentalism, Hasto framed the development of Kalimantan through a broader geopolitical lens. Given its geographical proximity to international shipping lanes and neighboring countries, he argued that the region requires a sophisticated development strategy that respects its natural boundaries rather than treating it merely as a resource extraction frontier.
"Developing Kalimantan must not be done from the center by deforesting the region; instead, it must be based on a geostrategic approach, utilizing Indonesian Archipelagic Sea Lanes (ALKI) I and ALKI II," Hasto emphasized.
His reference to ALKI I and ALKI II highlights the critical maritime corridors passing through Indonesian waters—spanning the Sunda Strait, South China Sea, and Sulawesi Sea—positioning North Kalimantan as a vital geopolitical nexus rather than an isolated frontier province. Analysts note that integrating environmental protection with national security and trade routes reflects PDI-P’s evolving platform on sustainable national development, particularly as the region adjusts to the proximity of Indonesia’s new capital city, Nusantara (IKN), in neighboring East Kalimantan.
Reaffirming Ideological Consolidation Over Political Power Struggles
Addressing the internal mechanics of the conference, Hasto sought to reorient the expectations of attendees regarding the purpose of the gathering. He stressed that a Konferda should not be viewed merely as an arena for internal maneuvering or competing for structural positions within the party.
"Konferda must not become a venue to fight for positions, but rather a momentum to strengthen ideological, historical, and organizational awareness," Hasto asserted. He added that the meetings must function as an institutional space to reinforce grassroots networks, build collective political consciousness, and institutionalize the party’s tradition of "descending to the grassroots" (turun ke bawah).
Hasto underscored that maintaining open dialogue and interpersonal diplomacy remains vital to PDI-P’s identity, especially amid complex and shifting political landscapes. In an era where political parties face pressures to professionalize through top-down, centralized hierarchies, PDI-P leadership continues to advocate for an approachable, dialogic organizational culture that resists becoming detached or elitist.
Background Context and Wider Implications
The 2025 North Kalimantan Konferda and Konfercab take place against a backdrop of intensified political restructuring across Indonesia following the 2024 general and regional elections. As political parties prepare for subsequent legislative cycles and evaluate their sub-national networks, regional conferences serve as critical testing grounds for party discipline, consolidation, and alignment with central directives.
North Kalimantan holds unique strategic and ecological importance. Sharing a porous land border with East Malaysia (Sabah and Sarawak) and sitting along major maritime routes, the province is a focal point for transboundary trade, security concerns, and environmental diplomacy. Rapid infrastructure development and plantation expansion in recent decades have brought economic opportunities but also heightened ecological vulnerabilities, making environmental governance a prominent political issue in the region.
By centering the conference on ecological preservation, indigenous rights, and geostrategic maritime integration, PDI-P leadership is attempting to align its regional apparatus with national environmental discourses. Observers suggest that this dual focus on conservation and grassroots solidarity is designed to bolster the party’s rural electoral base, which has historically relied on agricultural and forest-dependent communities.
As the multi-day conference proceeds, delegates from various branches across North Kalimantan are expected to formulate localized policy recommendations, elect new leadership boards, and finalize strategic action plans aimed at strengthening party resilience at the municipal and provincial levels. The emphasis on ideology and environmental stewardship set by Hasto Kristiyanto is anticipated to guide the party’s regional legislative agenda moving forward.
