Tens of thousands attend KPB rally in Banten<\/p>\n
PANDEGLANG, West Java (JP): Newly established Work for
\nNational Care (KPB), a non-governmental organization dominated by
\nGolkar Party figures, drew the attention of tens of thousands of
\nMuslims here on Sunday by staging an anticommunism rally.<\/p>\n
Numerous Muslim clerics who co-presided a prayer at the mass
\ngathering expressed full support for the KPB in its mission to
\nfight for people's aspirations to maintain the ban on communism
\nand to help develop the economic, education and religious sectors
\nin the region.<\/p>\n
They said they would encourage Muslims in the region to
\nsupport political parties and NGOs which were fully committed to
\naccommodating people's aspirations.<\/p>\n
\"We support the KPB because it has made an effort to channel
\nMuslim people's aspirations to keep the communism ban intact,\"
\nsaid a local senior ulema.<\/p>\n
KPB, founded by former Army chief of staff Gen. (ret) R.
\nHartono in April, plans to form a political party to contest the
\n2004 general election.<\/p>\n
Hundreds of local youths waved anticommunist banners while
\nthousands of others, dressed in green T-shirts bearing the KPB
\nlogo, traveled in a convoy across town on trucks and vans and
\nbuses. They yelled anticommunist slogans along the way.<\/p>\n
President Abdurrahman Wahid has repeatedly defended his wish
\nto have the 1966 Provisional People's Consultative Assembly
\ndecree banning communism revoked, while insisting it was the
\nAssembly that would have the final say.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman's call has failed to garner much support, with
\nonly the National Awakening Party (PKB) -- which he cofounded --
\nsupporting his proposal.<\/p>\n
Hartono called on President Abdurrahman Wahid to bow to the
\nincreasing waves of anticommunism demonstrations nationwide,
\nsaying they represented people's rejection of the President's
\nintention.<\/p>\n
\"The government will likely lose the people's confidence if
\nthe President goes ahead with his plan,\" said Hartono, amid huge
\napplause from the audience.<\/p>\n
He said the KPB would also call on the central government to
\ndevelop Banten into a new province in order to accelerate
\ndevelopment in the region.<\/p>\n
Hartono said after the gathering that KPB would form a
\npolitical party, claiming its presence and mission had gained
\nsupport from 22 provinces.<\/p>\n
\"We have organized such a mass gathering in 22 provinces and
\ngained support from the people,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said KPB would face no difficulties meeting the legal
\nrequirements to set up a political party as it has branches in 22
\nprovinces and millions of supporters.<\/p>\n
Asked about funding for the KPB, Hartono, who was accompanied
\nby former Golkar secretary-general Ari Mardjono, said the mass
\norganization had no links, neither financially nor politically,
\nwith former president Soeharto or his family.<\/p>\n
\"Neither Pak Harto, his daughter Mbak Tutut (Siti Hardiyanti
\nRukmana) or her siblings have donated one cent to KPB. Nor do
\nthey have any connection with us,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Hartono was often seen accompanying then Golkar deputy
\nchairwoman Hardiyanti during electoral campaigns ahead of the
\n1997 polls.<\/p>\n
When asked about the National Police's plan to question him on
\nMonday over his knowledge about the violence that followed the
\nforcible takeover of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) office
\nin July 1996, Hartono said he was prepared for the session. He
\nsaid as the Army chief he was not involved in the incident and
\nknew nothing about it. (rms)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/tens-of-thousands-attend-kpb-rally-in-banten-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}