Axis Force to retaliate against external threats<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The "axis force", a loose coalition of political
\nparties led by Amien Rais, warned it would retaliate against
\nattempts to undermine its strength.<\/p>\n
Amien, the chairman of the National Mandate Party (PAN) and
\nthe speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly, expressed his
\ndisappointment on Thursday that Hamzah Haz's replacement as
\ncoordinating minister for people's welfare and poverty
\neradication was not a United Development Party (PPP) member.<\/p>\n
Hamzah is the chairman of PPP, while his replacement, the
\nlittle-known Basri Hasanuddin, is a former university rector and
\nmember of the Assembly.<\/p>\n
"The axis force is disappointed with Hamzah Haz's replacement,
\nwho is not from PPP," Amien said.<\/p>\n
Amien said PPP was the largest member of the axis force, whose
\nsupport was pivotal in Abdurrahman Wahid's defeat of Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri in the presidential election.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman, better known as Gus Dur, announced last week he
\nhad accepted the resignation of Hamzah. However, the resignation
\nhas been surrounded by controversy, with some PPP officials
\nclaiming their chairman was "dismissed".<\/p>\n
These officials say Hamzah never formally submitted his
\nresignation to Abdurrahman, who claimed that Hamzah was stepping
\ndown to focus more attention on his duties as PPP chairman.<\/p>\n
Speaking to journalists after meeting with several foreign
\nambassadors here on Thursday, Amien conceded that Hamzah was not
\ndismissed but had resigned.<\/p>\n
"It's only that the way he was replaced was not prudent,
\nespecially because his replacement was not from PPP.<\/p>\n
"It should have been someone from PPP, which makes up the
\nlargest segment of the axis force, which elected Gus Dur," Amien
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Amien agreed PPP had the right to be disappointed with the
\nPresident over the affair.<\/p>\n
He said the axis force, which comprises PAN and several
\nIslamic-based parties, expressed its discontent with the
\nPresident through Minister of Foreign Affairs Alwi Shihab.<\/p>\n
"I, as someone who actively forged the axis force, believe the
\nstability of the government will depend on the direction the
\nPresident will now take," Amien said.<\/p>\n
While asserting that he did not believe Abdurrahman was
\nintentionally distancing himself from the axis force, Amien did
\nhint at attempts to undermine the political grouping.<\/p>\n
Amien warned the axis force could mount a counteroffensive,
\nwithout identifying those behind the alleged attempts to weaken
\nthe grouping.<\/p>\n
"Don't forget that the axis force is very strong. Because of
\nthat, if there are those who want to enfeeble us we will hit
\nback. We will retaliate," he asserted.<\/p>\n
Without going into detail, PPP official Husni Thamrin also
\nalleged that there was a movement to cripple the axis force,
\nbeginning with PPP.<\/p>\n
"But I warn you, don't start throwing punches because the axis
\nforce can throw one back," he said.<\/p>\n
PPP deputy chairman Tosari Wijaya also claimed there was "a
\ngrand conspiracy" aimed at destroying the axis force. He said
\nthis conspiracy included rumors of corruption such as had swirled
\naround Hamzah and Minister of Law and Legislation Yusril Ihza
\nMahendra, who heads the Crescent Star Party.<\/p>\n
Tosari said a recent call by legislators from the Indonesian
\nDemocratic of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) to censure Amien Rais
\nover his support of federalism also was part of the
\nconspiracy.<\/p>\n
Outside Jakarta, PPP officials were also up in arms about the
\nwhole affair.<\/p>\n
"We want President Abdurrahman to legally clarify Hamzah's
\nresignation, whether it is true or not that he is involved in
\ncorruption," Mudrick M. Sangidoe, a PPP chairman from the
\nSurakarta chapter, Cental Java, said on Thursday.<\/p>\n
The central board of PPP is slated to hold a two-day
\nleadership meeting on Sunday and demand the President to clear up
\nthe matter.<\/p>\n
"The President quickly officially clarified Yusril Ihza
\nMahendra saying that he was innocent following similar rumors.
\nWhy does he not do the same for Hamzah?"<\/p>\n
"Instead of doing that the President replaces him. What's
\ngoing on?" Mudrick charged.<\/p>\n
PPP's Central Java chairman M. Toyfoer separately expressed
\ndisappointment that a non-PPP cadre was handed Hamzah's post.
\n(jun\/har\/edt)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/axis-force-to-retaliate-against-external-threats-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}