PPP should avoid open conflicts, says Moerdiono<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Minister\/State Secretary Moerdiono called on
\nmembers of the United Development Party (PPP) yesterday to manage
\ntheir internal bickering so that it doesn't blow up during next
\nmonth's congress.<\/p>\n
Moerdiono met with PPP chairman Ismail Hasan Metareum to
\ndiscuss the congress that will open late next month.<\/p>\n
Metareum later told journalists that Moerdiono urged party
\nmembers to solve their internal problems in the spirit of
\nmusyawarah, or deliberation for consensus.<\/p>\n
\"If the congress succeeds, then it will contribute to the
\ngrowth of democracy,\" Moerdiono was quoted as saying by Metareum.<\/p>\n
Moerdiono hoped that as an agent of democratization, PPP
\npossesses the positive characteristics inherent in it, according
\nto Metareum.<\/p>\n
The minister also hoped that party members attending the
\ncongress exhibit self -control and maturity, Metareum said.<\/p>\n
Internal conflict within the PPP mainly centers on the two
\nmost dominant of its four factions, NU (Nahdlatul Ulama) and MI
\n(Muslimin Indonesia), which are vying for the chairmanship.
\nMetareum, who is seeking re-election, belongs to the MI fold.<\/p>\n
Metareum along with senior party members Matori Abdul Djalil,
\nZain Badjeber and Ali Kiaidemak, reported to Moerdiono on
\npreparations for the congress and asked for financial assistance.<\/p>\n
All three of the country's political groupings, including the
\ndominant Golkar and the minority Indonesian Democratic Party
\n(PDI), regularly ask the government for financial assistance.
\nThis practice, however, has been widely criticized by political
\nanalysts who believe it contributes to the parties' dependence on
\nthe government.<\/p>\n
\"We told President Soeharto once that PPP did not have the
\nfunds (to finance the congress)...and asked for presidential
\nassistance or other aid from the government,\" Metareum said.<\/p>\n
\"Minister Moerdiono...promised that he would study our request
\nfurther,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Metareum estimated that the PPP congress, which will last
\nseveral days during which the new leadership will be elected,
\nwould require an estimated Rp 1.5 billion (US$697,000).<\/p>\n
Last year, PDI received about Rp 1 billion for its congress,
\nwhile Golkar, whose membership includes many of the nation's
\nleading business tycoons, spent more than Rp 2.2 billion.<\/p>\n
During yesterday's meeting, Metareum asked the government to
\nhelp PPP make the congress a success.<\/p>\n
Conflicts<\/p>\n
Commenting on Moerdiono's concern about \"potential conflicts\"
\nwithin the party, Metareum said \"conflicts are in line with human
\nnature, but PPP will strive to reduce them.\"<\/p>\n
Over the past several months, the Moslem-backed PPP has been
\nrife with speculation and conflicts within the party, following
\nthe NU's claim that it intends to snatch the leadership from MI.<\/p>\n
However, the party rejected proposals for a meeting between
\nthe four factions to put an end to the internal bickering. Two
\nsenior members, Mardinsyah and Sofyan Usman, said such talks
\nwould only worsen the friction because the conflicting sides
\nwould fight for their factions instead of for the good of PPP.<\/p>\n
Rivalries involving politicians from the four factions that
\nmake up the PPP -- NU, MI, Syarikat Islam and PERTI -- are
\nmounting as the party braces for its five yearly congress. (swe)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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