Rival camps set for PPP chairmanship race<\/p>\n
A'an Suryana, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Five provincial chapters of the United Development Party (PPP)
\nannounced their support for the reelection of Hamzah Haz on
\nThursday, but demanded that in return he recruit young cadres to
\nfill 70 percent of positions in the party's central board.<\/p>\n
The provincial chapters from West Java, Jakarta, Bangka
\nBelitung, North Sumatra and Maluku also officially asked the
\nparty to name Hamzah, who is the Vice President, its presidential
\ncandidate.<\/p>\n
Burhanuddin Somawinata, the chairman of the West Java chapter,
\nsaid the presence of more young cadres in the party's inner
\ncircle could boost its chance of winning the 2004 general
\nelection.<\/p>\n
He said the party was in dire need of fresh blood to overcome
\ntough opposition in the 2004 general election, and he was
\nconfident that the young guns in the party were capable enough of
\nleading the party to victory.<\/p>\n
The five provincial chapters said Hamzah's reelection as party
\nchairman would enable him to run for the presidency.<\/p>\n
Ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle has named
\nchairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri, who is the President, its
\npresidential candidate, while National Mandate Party has picked
\nits chairman Amien Rais, who is the People's Consultative
\nAssembly speaker its aspirant for presidency. Another major party
\nthe National Awakening Party is close to supporting chief patron
\nAbdurrahman Wahid's bid to regain power.<\/p>\n
Hamzah officially announced on Thursday his readiness to
\ncontest the party chairmanship for the second successive term.<\/p>\n
He said his decision to join the race came after many
\nprovincial chapters and influential ulema expressed their support
\nfor his leadership.<\/p>\n
The veteran politician hails from Nahdlatul Ulama, an
\ninfluential faction within the party, and is largely supported by
\nthe old generation.<\/p>\n
PPP brought forward its congress to elect its chairman one
\nyear from its initial schedule in 2004, following pressure from
\nyoung cadres.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Hamzah's lone rival Bachtiar Chamsyah maintained
\nthat he would not throw in the towel until the election on
\nFriday.<\/p>\n
Ali Hardi Kyai Demak, one of Bachtiar's close aides, claimed
\nthat Bachtiar, who comes from the Muslimin Indonesia faction, was
\nsupported by 70 percent of both the party's chapters and
\nbranches.<\/p>\n
In a separate development, both Hamzah and Bachtiar picked
\ntheir own team of selectors, who will elect the chairman on
\nFriday.<\/p>\n
The seven-member selection committee will be elected by the
\nparty's chapters, branches and executive board. Thirty votes are
\nallotted for the chapters, 404 for the branches and one vote for
\nthe central board.<\/p>",
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