KNPI's East Java chapter faces disintegration<\/p>\n
SURABAYA (JP): The East Java chapter of the Indonesian
\nNational Youth Committee (KNPI), a politically well-connected
\numbrella organization of various youth groups -- is facing
\ndisintegration after one member abandoned it while seven others
\nhave threatened to do the same.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Nationalist University Student Movement (GMNI)
\ndeclared yesterday it was pulling out of the KNPI out of
\ndisappointment over the chapter leaders' failure to heed member
\norganizations' aspirations in their congress in Pandaaan last
\nweek.<\/p>\n
The seven other youth groups which have threatened to resign
\nwere Fatayat, Ansor Youth and IPPNU which are affiliated to
\nIndonesia's largest Moslem organization Nahdlatul Ulama; the
\nIndonesian Christian Youth Movement (GAMKI); Kosgoro Youth, which
\nis affiliated to the dominant Golkar; the Association of Moslem
\nStudents (HMI); and the Indonesian Catholic University Student
\nUnion.<\/p>\n
In a statement signed by chairman Dedy Hermawan and
\nsecretariat Arif Wibowo, the East Java branch of GMNI called on
\ntheir leaders at the national level to pull out of KNPI to assert
\nits independence, strengthen its vision and clarify direction.<\/p>\n
The congress of the KNPI East Java chapter last week elected
\nDossy Iskandar from the Pemuda Panca Marga branch as its new
\nchairman, and nine others as members of a council in charge of
\nestablishing the full lineup of the chapter.<\/p>\n
The dissenters alleged that the elected people were influenced
\nby a local official, Tony Sunarto, the secretary of the Pasuruan
\nregency administration.<\/p>\n
Dedy said the KNPI -- which was established in 1973 by 13
\nyouth groups but whose membership has grown to 30 today -- is no
\nlonger an association of youth groups.<\/p>\n
\"GMNI has been treated as a mere accessory,\" Dedy said. \"We no
\nlonger see the need to waste our energy and thoughts on KNPI.\"<\/p>\n
He said the KNPI had lost its sharpness in dealing with
\ncontemporary political issues. \"The organization is no longer
\nsensitive and able to respond to public problems such as poverty,
\nland appropriation, labor plights, corruption and others,\" he
\nsaid. \"The KNPI is no longer critical.\"<\/p>\n
Most of the elected leaders refused to comment on the
\nresignation of GMNI and the threat by seven other youth groups.
\nAmong the new leaders was secretary Ario Widjanarko, the son of
\nSurabaya Mayor Sunarto Sumoprawiro.<\/p>\n
Only M. Mirdasy, a member of the council of nine, agreed that
\nKNPI had lost its ability to absorb member groups' aspirations
\nbecause of the strong pressure from the local government.<\/p>\n
\"KNPI needs to reassert its independence, and avoid protracted
\nproblems,\" said Mirdasy from the Muhammadiyah Moslem
\norganization. (nur)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/knpis-east-java-chapter-faces-disintegration-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}