Amien's 'center axis'<\/p>\n
National Mandate Party (PAN) chairman Amien Rais, United
\nDevelopment Party (PPP) chairman Hamzah Haz, Crescent Star Party
\n(PBB) chairman Yusril Ihza Mahendra and Nadhlatul Ummat Party
\n(PNU) chairman Yusuf Hasyim met at PPP headquarters over the past
\nweekend. Their agenda was to give greater substance to what they
\nrefer to as the Center Axis (Poros Tengah) as a force to compete
\nwith both Golkar and the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle
\n(PDI Perjuangan) in the upcoming General Session of the People's
\nConsultative Assembly (MPR).<\/p>\n
The efforts raised much speculation among both analysts and
\nthe public at large. This, plus Amien Rais' recent statement of
\nsupport for Gus Dur (National Awakening Party chairman
\nAbdurrahman Wahid) as a presidential candidate, is seen as a
\nreaction to the failure of the Ciganjur Group of leaders (Amien,
\nGus Dur, PDI Perjuangan chairwoman Megawati and Sultan
\nHamengkubuwono X) -- especially the highly passive PDI Perjuangan
\n-- to perform. It is also seen as an effort to block Golkar,
\nconsidered antireformist or pro-status quo.<\/p>\n
Others see the move as part of the political acrobatics that
\nare currently being performed by both Gus Dur and Amien Rais for
\npurposes which only those two leaders know. Gus Dur is said to be
\ntrying to lead Amien and the Islamic parties in the group to
\nsupport Megawati. Others, on the other hand, say that Amien is
\ntrying to isolate Gus Dur from Megawati to the advantage of
\nHabibie. Either of the two arguments could be true.<\/p>\n
Whatever it is that those leaders are trying to achieve, we
\nhope it is in the interest of the people. The point is that if
\nthe end objective is (to attain) power -- if they should stray
\nfor just this one time -- the people will be disappointed
\nforever. The people will no longer provide them with a stage on
\nwhich to perform.<\/p>\n
-- Media Indonesia, Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/amiens-center-axis-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }