PKB: Political or 'pesantren'?<\/p>\n
From Media Indonesia<\/p>\n
The various reports on the National Awakening Party (PKB)
\nrelating to the Matori group as well as the camp of Abdurrahman
\n\"Gus Dur\" Wahid and Alwi Shihab, can be judged by reference to
\nthe party's statutes\/bylaws (AD\/ART). The Gus Dur & Alwi Shihab
\ncamp apparently hardly ever follows party rules, which prompts
\nit, in directing PKB, to exercise more of its influence among
\nNahdlatul Ulama members, such as in managing pesantren (Islamic
\nboarding schools). Meanwhile, the Matori faction treats PKB as a
\npolitical party and thus seems to rely more on party rules.<\/p>\n
When Matori Abdul Jalil was dismissed as general chairman of
\nPKB, he was charged with a breach of party discipline, but Gus
\nDur, as chairman of the advisory board, completely ignored PKB's
\nAD\/ART. Article 10, paragraph 6 of the rules on termination of
\nmembership stipulates, \"in the case of a member holding a certain
\nfunction in the party, the decision on his\/her suspension or
\ndismissal shall be made by the party executive board a level
\nhigher, based on a proposal of the relevant executive board
\nconfirming his\/her membership, after a plenary meeting.\"<\/p>\n
Likewise, the Gus Dur & Alwi camp's appeal for reconciliation
\nwas not based on the AD\/ART. On the other hand, the Matori group,
\naccused of setting up a rival central board, called on all PKB
\nexecutives to convene an extraordinary congress, preceded by a
\nnational conference in November.<\/p>\n
Under party rules, such assemblies are controlled. For
\ninstance, article 36, paragraph 1 of the ART reads, \"an
\nextraordinary congress can be convened when a situation
\nconsidered to be a threat to the continuity of the party arises.\"
\nIn this way, Matori's suggestion for a special session, apart
\nfrom being based on concern that the party's future existence may
\nbe under threat, also serves to confirm the group's view that PKB
\nis a political organization possessing internal rules.<\/p>\n
I wish to ask Gus Dur a question: is PKB a political party or
\na pesantren?<\/p>\n
AWANG AWARI<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/pkb-political-or-pesantren-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }