Petisi 50 group warns of New Order regime elements<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): After two decades of opposition, the Petisi 50
\n(Petition 50) group was unrelenting on Tuesday, marking its
\nanniversary with a strong warning that allies of its old foes,
\nthe New Order regime, were still threatening democratization.<\/p>\n
To mark its 20th anniversary the group issued a statement
\ntitled We are Called to Save the Nation, warning that political
\nsupporters of the New Order regime were quietly continuing
\nefforts to regain power.<\/p>\n
\"The nation and the state are under threat, therefore we are
\ncalled upon to save it,\" Chris Siner Kei Timu said reading the
\nstatement.<\/p>\n
The statement was signed by the group's chairman Ali Sadikin
\nand members Azis Saleh, Gen. (ret.) Hoegeng Iman Santoso, S.K.
\nTrimurti, Hari Sanusi, Rajab Ranggasali, Wachdiat Sukardi and
\nChris himself.<\/p>\n
The gathering marking the group's jubilee was held at Ali
\nSadikin's residence on Jl. Borobudur, Central Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Ali, a retired marine lieutenant general, is one of the
\ncofounders of the group, which was established on May 5, 1980.<\/p>\n
The group consists mostly of former senior government
\nofficials and military officers.<\/p>\n
At a time when there was rarely strong public opposition
\ntoward the government, the group was steadfast in its criticisms
\nof Soeharto's rule.<\/p>\n
President Abdurrahman Wahid visited Ali Sadikin in March and
\npraised him as the country's pillar during the difficult times
\nunder Soeharto's rule.<\/p>\n
\"He was very strong in facing the hardship. I am very
\nappreciative of him,\" the President said of Ali.<\/p>\n
Ali himself said at that time Abdurrahman's Cabinet would need
\nat least one year to show its progress due to the complexity of
\nthe country's problems.<\/p>\n
In their statement on Tuesday, the group did not explicitly
\ncriticize Abdurrahman's presidency, however they did express
\nconcern over Cabinet disunity.<\/p>\n
\"The formation of the Cabinet was a compromise between the old
\nregime and reform forces,\" the group said, while suggesting the
\nupcoming general session of the People's Consultative Assembly
\n(MPR) in August be a forum to acquire a progress report from the
\nPresident. (prb)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/petisi-50-group-warns-of-new-order-regime-elements-1447893297",
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