PBB to strive to become big party<\/p>\n
YOGYAKARTA (JP): Chairman of the Crescent Star Party (PBB)
\nYusril Ihza Mahendra, who is also minister of justice and human
\nrights, said here on Friday that his party was determined to
\nbecome one of the \"big three\" in the 2004 general elections.<\/p>\n
\"That's not impossible judging from recent developments ,
\nespecially the country's political situation in the last two
\nyears,\" Yusril told some 500 PBB supporters attending a gathering
\nat the PDHI building.<\/p>\n
The gathering was held ahead of the party's two-day national
\nworking meeting which was opened on Friday evening. Around 200
\nPBB's activists attended the working meeting.<\/p>\n
According to Yusril, PBB's ambition to be among the \"big
\nthree\" in the next general election was a feasible goal.<\/p>\n
\"Politics always change. Someone in power today, could be
\npowerless tomorrow. Just look at Gus Dur. Who imagined that he
\nwould become a president?\" he said.<\/p>\n
He added that people were already questioning if the current
\ndominant parties are really working for the people. \"This
\nindicates that these parties may become \"small\" in the future.\"<\/p>\n
\"If PBB makes a serious attempt to achieve this target, I'm
\nsure we will be successful,\" he said, citing internal party
\nconsolidation and the party's independence as examples of efforts
\nto reach the target.<\/p>\n
Other important issues to be discussed in the meeting are the
\nparty's financial matters and recruitment of new cadre. \"Cadre
\nrecruitment and development is a must for regeneration.\"<\/p>\n
Yusril also reminded PBB activists and supporters to remain
\ncritical of the government, despite being part of the government
\nhimself.<\/p>\n
\"I am myself critical of Gus Dur. Why shouldn't you,\" he said.<\/p>\n
In his speech, Yusril also expressed his determination to keep
\nfighting for the adoption of certain Islamic laws in the Jakarta
\nCharter of the 1945 Constitution as he saw it as a mandate of the
\nparty's congress.<\/p>\n
\"That's a mandate from the party's congress. It's just a
\nmatter of time (before we win),\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said he had finished preparing the draft for the new
\nCriminal Law Code which consists of 648 articles. \"I'm ready to
\nask for the House of Representative's approval in March
\n2001.\"(swa)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/pbb-to-strive-to-become-big-party-1447893297",
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