Ministers stay away from PCPP initial congress<\/p>\n
YOGYAKARTA (JP): The Association of Intellectuals for
\nPancasila Development (PCPP) opened its inaugural congress here
\nyesterday without the presence of a single cabinet minister.<\/p>\n
The opening ceremony proved anticlimactic due to the extensive
\nmedia coverage drawn by the group since the announcement of its
\nestablishment last July with ringing endorsements from a number
\nof senior government officials.<\/p>\n
Minister of Home Affairs Moch. Yogie S., who was scheduled to
\ngive the keynote address to open the congress, failed to turn up.
\nMinister\/State Secretary Moerdiono and Minister of Defense and
\nSecurity Gen. (ret.) Edi Sudradjat also failed to appear,
\nalthough the organizers remained hopeful until the last minute,
\ndelaying the opening to wait for their arrival.<\/p>\n
Yogyakarta Governor Paku Alam VIII, who was asked to open the
\ncongress instead of Yogie at the last minute, also stayed away,
\nciting poor health, Antara reported.<\/p>\n
The task of opening the congress was left to Moehono, one of
\nthe three men who founded the association.<\/p>\n
The few VIPs present included Gen. (ret.) Soerono, a former
\ncabinet minister who has been named chairman of PCPP's advisory
\nboard, businessman Soekamdani Sahid Gitosardjono, and senior East
\nTimorese statesman Lopez da Cruz.<\/p>\n
When its establishment was announced to the public three
\nmonths ago, PCPP was widely seen as providing an alternative
\nforum for the scholars who have stayed out of the other
\nassociations of intellectuals, whose memberships are based on
\nreligion.<\/p>\n
Several top cabinet ministers, including most notably Edi
\nSudradjat, Sarwono Kusumaatmadja and Siswono Yudohusodo, were
\namong those who hailed the organization.<\/p>\n
Some political analysts even viewed PCPP as having the
\npotential to counter the growing influence of the Association of
\nIndonesian Moslem Intellectuals (ICMI), which is headed by State
\nMinister of Research and Technology B.J. Habibie.<\/p>\n
Both Sarwono and Siswono, despite endorsing the PCPP, declined
\nto chair the new organization when they were approached by the
\nfounders who were seeking to give PCPP a stronger national
\nstature.<\/p>\n
Founded by staff lecturers of the University of Jenderal
\nSudirman in Purwokerto, Central Java, the PCPP has enlisted a
\nlarge number of members and supporters.<\/p>\n
A total of 514 delegates representing all 27 provinces are
\nattending the congress which ends today.<\/p>\n
The delegates are scheduled to elect a chairman before the
\ncongress concludes today. Given the refusal of cabinet ministers
\nto chair the organization, the congress appears likely to elect
\none of the founders, Moehono, or Rubiyanto Misman.<\/p>\n
Rubiyanto yesterday put on a brave face after learning that
\nthe cabinet ministers invited to the congress decided to stay
\naway, saying that their absence would in no way affect the
\nproceedings.<\/p>\n
\"The PCPP congress will continue with drafting its programs
\nand appoint the executive board,\" he said. (mun\/har\/emb)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ministers-stay-away-from-pcpp-initial-congress-1447893297",
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