Solahuddin calls for political allaince between PKB and PPP<\/p>\n
Muhammad Nafik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The chairman of Indonesia's largest Muslim organization,
\nNahdlatul Ulama (NU), has called for a political alliance between
\nits National Awakening Party (PKB), and the United Development
\nParty (PPP) during the general elections in 2004.<\/p>\n
"The coalition is necessary to prevent huge potential conflict
\namong NU supporters voting for PKB and PPP in the next
\nelections," Solahuddin Wahid told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Such an alliance, he said, is important for the two NU-based
\npolitical parties to win significant votes in the 2004 district-
\nsystem general elections.<\/p>\n
Solahuddin cited the results of a simulation, under a district
\nsystem, as part of the 1999 elections, in which the Indonesian
\nDemocratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) received 199 seats,
\nthe Golkar Party 167 seats, the PKB 38 seats, the PPP 33 seats
\nand the National Mandate Party (PAN) got 19 seats.<\/p>\n
The Crescent Star Party (PBB) and Justice Party (PK) grabbed
\none seat each.<\/p>\n
Based on the results, Solahuddin said only PDI Perjuangan,
\nGolkar and a coalition of Islamic parties grouped in the so-
\ncalled Central Axis will be eligible in the next polls.<\/p>\n
A PKB-PPP alliance should also involve other NU-based
\npolitical parties -- People's Sovereignty Party (PKU), People's
\nAwakening Party (PNU) and Sunni Party, Solahuddin said. NU boasts
\naround 40 million members nationwide.<\/p>\n
He admitted, however, that he couldn't explore the possibility
\nof merging PKB with PPP in the near future, owing to certain
\ndifferences, such as PPP's demand for the inclusion of the
\nJakarta Chapter in the constitution.<\/p>\n
Muslim-based parties such as PPP, PBB and PK supported the
\ninclusion of Islamic principles adopted by the Jakarta Chapter in
\nthe 1945 Constitution, while PKB, Golkar and PDI Perjuangan have
\nopposed the call.<\/p>\n
According to Solahuddin, NU endorses Islamic sharia law to be
\nincluded in national constitution merely as "cultural and
\npolitical" symbols. He declined to elaborate.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, NU Chairman Hasyim Muzadi said PKB founder
\nAbdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid backed suggestions for the holding of
\nan extraordinary party congress to elect a definitive chairman if
\nthe on-going leadership dispute within the forth largest party
\ncannot be resolved amicably.<\/p>\n
"Gus Dur supports an extraordinary congress if the conflict
\ncannot be overcome in a friendly manner because...it is an
\norganizational settlement," Hasyim said on Saturday in Surabaya,
\nEast Java.<\/p>\n
He said NU members who met recently at the Langitan boarding
\nschool in the East Java town of Tuban had recommended that the
\ndispute be settled in a special PKB congress following their
\nfailure to reconcile conflicting factions.<\/p>\n
PKB has been embroiled in a bitter dispute since the ousting
\nof Gus Dur as president in July, who then sacked party chairman
\nMatori Abdul Djalil and appointed Alwi Shihab to replace him.<\/p>\n
However, Matori, who also serves as defense minister, defied
\nthe sacking and instead set up a rival PKB camp. Last week, NU
\nleaders tried to convene a conciliatory meeting in Langitan for
\nMatori and Gus Dur, but the two did not show up.<\/p>\n
"During the extraordinary congress, the PKB central board will
\nbe accountable for its decision to sack Matori and he will be
\ngiven a chance to defend himself -- but the final decision will
\nbe made by congress participants," Hasyim said.<\/p>\n
He urged the PKB to hold such a congress as soon as possible
\nas NU wants to see the internal conflict resolved quickly.<\/p>",
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