Ciganjur group to meet again in Yogyakarta<\/p>\n
SURAKARTA, Central Java (JP): The much-awaited second meeting
\nof a group of leading politicians known as the Ciganjur four is
\nscheduled to take place next week at the Yogyakarta residence of
\nchairman of the National Mandate Party (PAN) Amien Rais.<\/p>\n
\"I think we will hold the meeting on July 17 or July 18,\"
\nAmien said. The agenda for the meeting was yet to be decided,
\nthough it would most likely focus on the candidate for the
\npresidency, he said.<\/p>\n
The first meeting of the Ciganjur group took place last
\nNovember. Amien, Abdurrahman \"Gus Dur\" Wahid of the National
\nAwakening Party (PKB), Yogyakarta monarch and governor Sultan
\nHamengkubuwono X and Megawati Soekarnoputri of the Indonesian
\nDemocratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) were brought
\ntogether by university students.<\/p>\n
Ciganjur refers to the South Jakarta residence of Abdurrahman,
\nalso chairman of the largest Muslim organization, Nahdlatul
\nUlama.<\/p>\n
Amien said all the Ciganjur figures would be invited to the
\nsecond meeting, despite reports that PDI Perjuangan executives
\nhad urged Megawati not to attend.<\/p>\n
Controversy has arisen over the gender of the next president,
\nseen by many as a move to hinder Megawati from the presidential
\nrace.<\/p>\n
Amien said he was unsure whether all four participants at the
\noriginal gathering would meet again.<\/p>\n
\"I have just returned from Singapore, and Gus Dur is leaving
\nfor the U.S. for medical treatment.\"<\/p>\n
Amien made his comments while in Solo on a visit to his
\nmother, Sudalmiyah Suhud Rais, who was recently admitted to Solo
\nMuhammadiyah Hospital for hip surgery.<\/p>\n
He dismissed rumors that the Ciganjur group had split up,
\nfollowing the cancellation of the scheduled second meeting last
\nweekend.<\/p>\n
Amien denied the move was related to private interests, saying
\ntechnical problems led to the postponement.<\/p>\n
\"The figures were busy with their own concerns.\"<\/p>\n
He acknowledged however that the Ciganjur group now had a
\ndifferent role to play.<\/p>\n
Prior to the general election, the group was considered to
\nrepresent most Indonesians, and its opinion was taken into
\naccount by a special session of the People's Consultative
\nAssembly (MPR) last November, he said.<\/p>\n
The group issued the Ciganjur declaration, which included a
\nmotion to phase out the military's dual role.<\/p>\n
Amien said power in the post-election period had shifted from
\nthe hands of university students and pressure groups to the House
\nof Representatives (DPR) and the People's Consultative Assembly.<\/p>\n
He said the second meeting would have a limited purpose, but
\nthat it would nevertheless provide input to the democratization
\nprocess.<\/p>\n
\"At least it would serve as a get-together session,\" Amien
\nsaid.(har\/05)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ciganjur-group-to-meet-again-in-yogyakarta-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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