Reconsiliation between Matori and Alwi unlikely<\/p>\n
Asip A. Hasani and Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Yogyakarta\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
As reconciliation with Matori Abdul Djalil's faction looks
\nincreasingly remote, the National Awakening Party (PKB) Alwi
\nShihab faction has decided to amend the party's constitution and
\npolitical platform.<\/p>\n
Briefing the press one day before the faction kicked off its
\ncongress in Yogyakarta, party executive A.S. Hikam refused to say
\nif the amendments were related to plans to change the party's
\nname, saying only that the changes were needed to improve the
\nparty's structural capabilities so that it could attract more
\nvoters in the 2004 general election.<\/p>\n
"It is very important for the PKB to attract more voters in
\nthe general election so that we can translate our political
\nplatform into the country's political life more effectively," he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
At least 1,600 PKB workers confirmed their participation in
\nthe congress to be opened by its advisory board chief, former
\npresident Abdurrahman Wahid, or Gus Dur as he is familiarly
\nknown.<\/p>\n
Set up in July 1999, the PKB split into two groups in July
\n2001 after a faction led by Matori Abdul Djalil attended the 2001
\nextraordinary session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR)
\nthat removed then president Abdurrahman Wahid, a PKB founder,
\nfrom office.<\/p>\n
Gus Dur, in his capacity as the PKB's board of patrons chief,
\nretaliated by dismissing Matori and replaced him with Alwi
\nShihab, who had served as the minister for foreign affairs during
\nGus Dur's short-lived presidency.<\/p>\n
Matori, who continues to claim to be the legitimate chairman
\nof the PKB, set out on Wednesday hard-to-accept conditions for
\nreconciliation with the Alwi camp, namely that he (Matori) be
\nallowed to keep his position as the party chairman.<\/p>\n
"We are always open to a reconciliation with Alwi's camp, but
\non condition that I must retain my chairmanship," Matori said at
\nthe closing ceremony of his faction's three-day congress in
\nJakarta.<\/p>\n
Matori's precondition for a reconciliation is very unlikely to
\nbe accepted by the Alwi camp, setting the stage for a formal
\nbreakup of the political party that was founded in July 1999 with
\nthe support of Nahdlatul Ulama, the country's biggest Muslim
\norganization, which has at least 45 million members.<\/p>\n
In the event of breaking up, Matori is likely to retain the
\nname PKB, while Alwi Shihab will have to find a different name
\nfor his party. Alwi will also have to register his party with the
\njustice and human rights ministry in order to contest the 2004
\ngeneral election.<\/p>\n
It was not clear, however, if the constitution changes already
\ndrafted also covered a change in the party's name. The party's
\nboard of patrons chief, Gus Dur, had said earlier that he would
\nchange the party's name should Matori's PKB win recognition from
\nthe administration of President Megawati Soekarnoputri.<\/p>\n
"The new name could be the 'Original PKB' or something
\nsimilar," Gus Dur once said.<\/p>\n
Hikam, who served as minister of research and technology in
\nGus Dur's cabinet, said the expected changes in the party's
\npolitical platform were crucial for updating it in line with
\nprevailing political and social issues.<\/p>\n
He said that in the political field, the party's platform
\nwould underline constitutional reform, including a campaign for
\ngood governance and direct presidential elections, he said.<\/p>\n
"The draft change of platform in the economic field focuses on
\nthe concept of "popular economy" but with an emphasis on the
\nconcept's practicality rather than using it rhetorically."<\/p>\n
Hikam said other crucial issues that would be inserted in the
\nparty's platform concerned regional autonomy and national
\neducation.<\/p>\n
Secretary of the congress steering committee, Khofifah Indar
\nParawansa, who is also one of the party's central executive board
\nmembers, said that a major change would also be made as part of
\nthe effort to guarantee more proportionate women's representation
\nin the party.<\/p>\n
In his capacity as a member of the party's central executive
\nboard, Hikam said that Alwi's faction would make every effort to
\napproach and reunite with Matori Abdul Djalil's faction despite
\nMatori's absence from the Alwi faction congress.<\/p>\n
"Because Pak Matori is also a PKB worker who has given
\nsignificant service to the party. We still hope that he will
\nappear before this congress to clarify what he did, although we
\nhave already given him five opportunities to meet with the PKB
\ncentral board, all of which he failed to avail of," he asserted.<\/p>\n
Hikam said that suing Matori's faction for establishing an
\nillegal party would still be a resort that was open to the Alwi
\nfaction.<\/p>\n
"What kind of reconciliation efforts we make are dependent on
\nthe new central executive board and the congress," he added.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/reconsiliation-between-matori-and-alwi-unlikely-1447893297",
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