PPP needs new leader to avoid a breakup<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A noted political observer warned that the
\nUnited Development Party (PPP) may fall apart in the next
\nelection if it fails to elect a new leader in its congress next
\nmonth.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman Wahid said yesterday that the PPP's loyal
\nsupporters would abandon the party and cast their votes with the
\nIndonesian Democratic Party (PDI), or simply shun the general
\nelection in 1997, if PPP retains Ismail Hasan Metareum.<\/p>\n
Re-electing the incumbent would sow dissension among
\ngrassroots supporters who want to see the party making progress
\nin the next election, he said.<\/p>\n
\"Many PPP supporters voted for the party in the past by their
\nown choosing. It is possible that they will move to PDI if they
\nare dissatisfied,\" he said. He added that Golkar, the ruling
\npolitical organization, would not be considered by the supporters
\nbecause of their disagreement with their policies.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman, affectionately known as Gus Dur, believes that
\nthe Moslem-based party needs a leader who will emerge from the
\ngrassroots level and carry popular support. \"He must also get to
\nthe top through his own ability,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He took the example of how Megawati Soekarnoputri was elected
\nPDI chairperson after a long and arduous journey, given the fact
\nthat she was not the candidate supported by the government. \"But
\npeople were very satisfied when she was finally elected.\"<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman, however, said that a drop in the number of votes
\ngiven to PPP in the next election in 1997 would not affect the
\nnational stability.<\/p>\n
PPP is the second largest party after Golkar, while PDI is the
\nthird.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman echoed the statement issued over the weekend by a
\nvocal legislator from PPP, Sri Bintang Pamungkas, who said that
\nIsmail Hasan and secretary general Matori Abdul Djalil should
\nstep down because they have failed to turn the party into an
\norganization that is independent of the government.<\/p>\n
Populist leader<\/p>\n
Both Ismail Hasan and Matori also happen to be the strong
\ncontenders for the chairmanship election.<\/p>\n
The party is now under pressure to find a more populist leader
\nto match the charisma of Megawati who was elected PDI chairperson
\nin December.<\/p>\n
Ismail Hasan currently appears to have the upper hand in the
\nrun up to the election, to be held at the party's congress here
\nat the end of August. He has already secured the support of
\nleaders of many provincial boards and also, according to some
\npolitical analysts, the support of the government and the Armed
\nForces.<\/p>\n
Matori is depending on the support of the Nahdlatul Ulama of
\nwhich Abdurrahman is the chairman. It is by far the largest of
\nthe factions in the party whose leaders have made it known of
\ntheir intentions to wrest the party's leadership.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman said that if the government really stays away from
\nthe congress, Matori could win the election given the fact that
\nhe has strong support from the party's branches throughout the
\ncountry.<\/p>\n
He also said that there might be a possibility that the
\ngovernment intended Indonesia to be a two party system and by
\nthrowing its support to Ismail Hasan, they would succeed in the
\ndestruction of the PPP.<\/p>\n
He said that if this is what the government actually intended,
\nand it then actually materialized, the power between PDI and
\nGolkar would at least be balanced. \"As a political observer, I
\nagree with this,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Commenting on the recent statement by ABRI spokesman Brig.
\nGen. Syarwan Hamid that Ismail Hasan was regarded as the one who
\ncould cooperate with both the government and the Armed Forces,
\nAbdurrahman believes that such statement could not be regarded as
\nrepresenting the military. \"I know that it is only one side of
\nthe Armed Forces,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said that whoever emerged as the new chairman would be the
\none given the blessing of the government. \"In Indonesia, the
\nperson who wins the government's support wins the election. But
\nfor Megawati the case was different. I admire her,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman believes that PPP's congress would be tense, but
\nsays that it will proceed smoothly. (par)<\/p>",
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