New party declared, another one looms<\/p>\n
A'an Suryana, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Hartono Mardjono, a formerly influential figure of the
\nCrescent and Star Party (PBB), declared on Friday a new political
\nparty, the Indonesian Islamic Party (PII).<\/p>\n
The Muslim-based party was formed following an internal
\ndispute in PBB between Hartono, a deputy chairman of the party,
\nand then party chairman Yusril Ihza Mahendra.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, a former member of the Indonesian Democratic Party
\nof Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), Dimyati Hartono, said on Friday he
\nwould publicly launch his new party, the Indonesia-Our Motherland
\nParty (PITA), in several weeks.<\/p>\n
Hartono Mardjono denied that the establishment of his party
\nwas caused by a split in PBB resulting from preparations for the
\ngeneral election in 2004.<\/p>\n
\"The establishment of the party was initiated and supported
\nfrom the grass roots. The notarial documents of the party, for
\nexample, have already been signed by representatives from several
\nprovinces,\" he said on the sidelines of the party's unveiling at
\nHotel Indonesia here.<\/p>\n
The ceremony was held on Friday, which also marked the Islamic
\nNew Year.<\/p>\n
Dozens of people, including representatives from several
\nprovinces, were present at the party's declaration. Many of those
\nin attendance were former members of the Masyumi Party, a
\ncoalition between Muhammadiyah and Nadhlatul Ulama that existed
\nfrom 1940 to 1950.<\/p>\n
Masyumi was a high point for Muslim political activists, with
\nthe party succeeding in coalescing the country's two most
\nprominent Muslim organizations and securing the most votes in the
\ncountry's political constellation of the 1940s.<\/p>\n
Also present at the ceremony were Dimyati Hartono and Sri
\nBintang Pamungkas, the chairman of the Indonesian Uni-Democratic
\nParty (PUDI).<\/p>\n
The new party uses a unique symbol, which combines the symbols
\nof three other Muslim-based parties -- the Justice Party (PK),
\nthe National Mandate Party (PAN) and PBB.<\/p>\n
The PII symbol depicts the Sun (PAN) and a crescent and star
\n(PBB) over a black background similar to that used by the Justice
\nParty.<\/p>\n
\"We are trying to unite the vision of those Muslim-based
\nparties,\" Hartono said.<\/p>\n
Hartono also said he would not resign from the House of
\nRepresentatives and the People's Consultative Assembly, despite
\nhaving been elected as a legislator from PBB.<\/p>\n
\"I am representing people, my constituents. I am not a
\nrepresentative of the party,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Dimyati said his new party would be publicly
\ndeclared on April 7 at the Senayan Convention Center.<\/p>\n
With Pancasila as its foundation, Dimyati vowed that his party
\nwould revive the spirit of nationalism in the country.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/new-party-declared-another-one-looms-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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