PPP denies exodus of supporters in E. Java<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Executives of the East Java chapter of the
\nMoslem-based United Development Party (PPP) has denied reports
\nthat 454 local supporters have jumped ship and pledged their
\nallegiance to Golkar.<\/p>\n
Ahmat Dhofier, the secretary of the Bondowoso branch of PPP,
\nsaid that a majority of the party supporters, who reportedly
\ndeclared their new affiliation at a gathering on Thursday, were
\ntricked by certain individuals displeased with the party.<\/p>\n
\"They went to that gathering thinking there was going to be a
\nreading of the Koran led by Nahdlatul Ulama (A moslem
\norganization), but it turned out to be the reading of a statement
\nproclaiming a switch to Golkar,\" Ahmat was quoted by Antara as
\nsaying in Bondowoso on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Press reports said that while attending a Golkar gathering to
\ncommemorate a historical event last month, several PPP members
\nread a statement announcing they were switching their allegiance
\nto Golkar.<\/p>\n
Ahmat contended that the \"ceremony\" was organized by two-
\nformer PPP supporters, H. Anshori and P. Sun Bahrawi, who held
\npersonal grudges against the party.<\/p>\n
Ahmat claimed that most of the PPP members present were
\nunaware of the planned reading and had not switched to Golkar.<\/p>\n
\"Even if there are people wishing to jump the ship, it
\ncertainly wouldn't be as many as that,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He then lamented the practice of hijacking party supporters at
\na time where \"harmonization of politics\" was needed, with the
\ngeneral election just around the corner.<\/p>\n
Some 120 million Indonesians will be eligible to vote in the
\ngeneral election next year.<\/p>\n
Regardless of whether the reports of exodus were true, this is
\nthe second time this year that PPP voters have publicly switched
\nsides.<\/p>\n
Earlier last month as many as 2,000 PPP supporters crossed
\nover to join the Golkar camp in Sukabumi, West Java. Some reports
\nput the figure at 3,000 people.<\/p>\n
Until the last general election in 1992, PPP with its Moslem
\ngrass roots support was Golkar's main political opponent. This
\nposition is being challenged by the Christian-nationalist
\nIndonesian Democratic Party (PDI), which has been undergoing
\nreforms and becoming increasingly appealing to voters.<\/p>\n
Some observers have said that PPP, formerly known for its
\ndocility and low-profile approach in politics, has recently begun
\nto respond to the challenge by introducing fresh maneuvering. For
\ninstance, some PPP chapters last year threatened to boycott the
\ngeneral elections unless the government guarantees a fair and
\nhonest process.<\/p>\n
Golkar, PPP and PDI will compete for 425 of the 500 seats of
\nthe House of Representatives; the remaining 75 seats will be
\nallocated to the Armed Forces automatically.<\/p>\n
PPP currently holds 62 seats in the House while PDI holds 56,
\nand Golkar 282 seats.<\/p>\n
PPP chief Ismail Hasan Metareum branded the \"hijacking\"
\ntactics as unethical. He recently expressed concern about certain
\npolitical organizations which are willing to go so low as to
\naccept \"defectors\" through unethical means. (mds)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ppp-denies-exodus-of-supporters-in-e-java-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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