More candidates enter the fray in KNPI contest<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The ongoing congress of the Indonesian National
\nYouth Committee (KNPI) entered its fourth day yesterday as the
\nrace for its chairmanship intensified.<\/p>\n
Two new names emerged yesterday as \"dark horses\" in the race,
\nadding yesterday's field of eight.<\/p>\n
Maulana Isman, younger brother of State Minister of Youth
\nAffairs and Sports Hayono Isman, was one of the new contestants
\nand he seems to have the support of many at the 2,000 member
\ncongress.<\/p>\n
The other new name in the competition for the top post of the
\npolitically well-connected organization is Taufiq Hidayat of the
\ninfluential Islamic Students Association. Taufiq reportedly had
\nthe \"blessing\" of Army Chief of Staff Gen. R. Hartono.<\/p>\n
\"I'm ready to compete. Today I formally applied to contest in
\nthe election,\" Maulana told reporters, adding he had the personal
\nsupport of his minister brother.<\/p>\n
Promoting his candidature to Jakarta-based political
\njournalists, Maulana said that, should he be elected, he would do
\nhis best to bring \"a breath of fresh air\" in the youth committee.<\/p>\n
The other eight candidates are Joko Purwongemboro of the Panca
\nMarga Youth Organization, Syaiful Anwar of Indonesian Islamic
\nYouths, Kaharuddin Syah of the Pemuda Pancasila Youth
\nOrganization, Mujib Rachmat of the Ansor Islamic Youth Movement.
\nAdhyaksa of KNPI's Jakarta chapter, Ramli H.M. Yusuf of the
\ncommittee's outgoing central board, Budianto of the Central Java
\nchapter and Gatot Sudjito of the East Java chapter.<\/p>\n
The organization, which functions as an umbrella group for 39
\nyouth groups, has recently been the target of harsh criticism
\nfrom its own members, government officials and political analysts
\nfor its obvious leanings toward the dominant Golkar.<\/p>\n
Taufiq was among those who looked well-prepared for the
\nelection. He had not yet formally registered in the race, but had
\nalready named Iqbal Assegaf, chairman of the Ansor Islamic Youth
\nMovement, as his campaign manager.<\/p>\n
However, Taufiq was not the only candidate to receive the
\nsupport of a prominent figure. Armed Forces (ABRI) Chief Gen.
\nFeisal Tanjung had indicated on Wednesday where his support lay.<\/p>\n
Although reluctant to mention names, Feisal had said he would
\nprefer candidates from the two groups with close links to ABRI,
\nthe Communication Forum of Indonesian Ex-Servicemen's Children
\n(FKPPI) and the Panca Marga Youth Organization.<\/p>\n
\"There are candidates from two organizations of the great ABRI
\n,\" Feisal said.<\/p>\n
The incumbent KNPI chairman Tubagus Haryono is an FKPPI cadre
\nbut has declared his unwillingness to be renominated in the
\nelection. His group has yet to name its candidates.<\/p>\n
The important government and military officials who stated
\ntheir preferences have done so in spite of President Soeharto's
\ncall on Wednesday for the congress to hold a fair election, free
\nfrom any government intervention.<\/p>\n
\"Let the floor choose the new KNPI chairman,\" the President
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The fourth day of the congress was notable for the absence of
\ncabinet ministers originally scheduled to address the congress.<\/p>\n
The ministers who failed to deliver speeches included Foreign
\nAffairs Minister Ali Alatas and Minister of Defense and Security
\nGen. (ret) Edi Sudradjat. (imn)<\/p>",
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