President to open PKB congress in Surabaya<\/p>\n
SURABAYA (JP): Final touches were being made on Saturday as
\nparticipants anxiously awaited the arrival of party founder
\nPresident Abdurrahman Wahid who will open the first congress of
\nthe National Awakening Party (PKB) here on Sunday.<\/p>\n
The provincial capital was adorned with PKB flags and symbols
\nand hundreds of civilian militias in black uniform were seen on
\nnumerous corners.<\/p>\n
The militias are members of PKB's Garda Bangsa militia and
\nNU's civilian guards tasked with securing the congress.<\/p>\n
PKB Secretary-General Muhaimin Iskandar confirmed on Sunday
\nthat Gus Dur, the President's popular nickname, would open the
\ncongress as planned.<\/p>\n
\"Gus Dur will open the congress at Tambak Sari stadium,\"
\nMuhaimin, who is also deputy speaker of the House of
\nRepresentatives, said.<\/p>\n
The congress will start at 8 a.m. with a mass prayer attended
\nby thousands of PKB supporters, including hundreds of noted
\nulemas of the largest Muslim organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU).<\/p>\n
PKB was established by five executives of NU two years ago and
\nofficially declared by Abdurrahman from his residence in
\nCiganjur, South Jakarta.<\/p>\n
The importance of the party since its establishment is
\nreflected in the scheduled presence of Vice President Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri, chairwoman of the Indonesian Democratic party of
\nStruggle (PDI Perjuangan), and several Cabinet ministers at the
\nopening of the six-day congress.<\/p>\n
Several political parties' chairmen, including the National
\nMandate Party chairman Amien Rais (PAN) and Golkar Party chairman
\nAkbar Tandjung are also slated to attend.<\/p>\n
Many also expect that the attendance of these figures could
\nmark an opportunity for a \"political reconciliation\" meeting
\nbetween Abdurrahman, Megawati, Amien and Akbar.<\/p>\n
The second-day of the congress will be highlighted by an
\naccountability speech by the PKB executive body and responses
\nfrom provincial chapters.<\/p>\n
At least three commissions have been organized to formulate
\nvarious issues.<\/p>\n
Lively discussions are expected to occur in Commission A which
\nis assigned to discuss party regulations. There is expected to be
\ndebate here on whether the party's chairman will be directly
\nelected by the congress participants or by the party's
\nlegislative body (Dewan Syuro) as currently stated in its basic
\nregulations.<\/p>\n
Several executives from provincial chapters have threatened to
\nwalk out if the chairman is not directly elected.<\/p>\n
The final results of this debate are expected to be finalized
\non Wednesday while the election of the party's legislative body
\nis to be held the next day. (jun\/nur)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/president-to-open-pkb-congress-in-surabaya-1447893297",
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