PKB rivals may seek court ruling<\/p>\n
Tony Hotland, The Jakarta Post\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
A court decision now appears the most feasible option for putting
\nan end to an internal rift within the National Awakening Party
\n(PKB) as the two rival camps continue to stick by their guns in a
\nworsening leadership dispute.<\/p>\n
Represented by their key members during a discussion on Friday
\naimed at finding a solution to the bitter conflict, the two camps
\nmaintained their respective positions as to whether or not the
\nPKB should hold a new congress to end the chairmanship dispute.<\/p>\n
However, a splinter PKB faction led by chief welfare minister
\nAlwi Shihab gave assurances that it would not set up a new party.<\/p>\n
The PKB has been divided into two rival camps since its
\nnational congress in April, which elected House of
\nRepresentatives deputy speaker Muhaimin Iskandar as its new executive
\nchairman, and retained former president Abdurrahman \"Gus Dur\"
\nWahid as chief patron.<\/p>\n
Alwi's camp called the congress illegitimate as it failed to
\ninvolve him and State Minister for the Development of
\nDisadvantaged Regions, Saifullah Yusuf.<\/p>\n
\"A mediation process requires common ground. The only common
\nground we will accept is the declaring of the April congress
\nillegitimate and the holding of a new election,\" PKB legislator
\nA.S. Hikam from the Alwi-led camp told Friday's discussion.<\/p>\n
\"Mediation is OK as we always prefer to resort to mediation
\nfirst as members of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), but we will not accept
\nany challenge to the current party lineup,\" PKB lawmaker
\nNursyahbani Katjasungkana, who supports the Muhaimin faction,
\nsaid at the same forum.<\/p>\n
Alwi and Saifullah were suspended as the PKB chairman and
\nsecretary-general respectively last October after joining the
\nCabinet of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, whose presidential
\nbid was opposed by the party.<\/p>\n
The two are suing the PKB central board over their
\nsuspensions, which they say violated the party's statutes. The
\nhearing of the case is expected to kick off on May 9 in the South
\nJakarta District Court.<\/p>\n
Law No. 31\/2002 stipulates that a decision on a dispute
\ninvolving a political party must be handed down within a maximum
\nof 60 days from the hearing of the case, while a decision on an
\nappeal to the Supreme Court must be issued within not more than
\n30 days.<\/p>\n
Former PKB deputy chairman Mahfud M.D, however, said that
\nresorting to the courts would not benefit the party as the losing
\nside would most likely split from the party, which would only
\nfurther damage it.<\/p>\n
\"History shows that splits, especially when led by senior
\nclerics, results in adverse consequences, such as shifting
\nallegiances and reduced party strength. The chances of winning
\nare really only fifty-fifty.<\/p>\n
Seeking a solution through mediation could instead prove to the
\npublic that the PKB was a mature party that solved its conflicts
\nin a dignified manner without giving the impression of a power
\nstruggle,\" Mahfud, a self-proclaimed mediator in the conflict,
\ntold the Friday discussion.<\/p>\n
Nonetheless, if going to court was the only available options, Mahfud
\nsaid he believed that Gus Dur would be the one to lead the
\nreconciliation process after the court case.<\/p>\n
\"Gus Dur is highly respected by both camps. And he is a very
\nprocedural type of person. Whatever the court decides, whether at
\nthe district court or Supreme Court level, Gus Dur will
\nlikely abide by it, and this will hopefully be emulated by
\neveryone else,\" said Mahfud.<\/p>",
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