Yogie says `no' to establishment of new party<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Home Affairs Moch. Yogie S.M. ruled
\nout yesterday the establishment of a new political party as
\npondered by Moslem ulemas who are dismayed by the existing
\nparties' inability to accommodate their wishes.<\/p>\n
Yogie pointed out that the 1985 law on political parties
\nlimits the number of political organizations allowed to contest
\nthe five yearly general elections to three: the United
\nDevelopment Party (PPP), Golkar and the Indonesian Democratic
\nParty (PDI).<\/p>\n
Yogie described the proposal for a new party as an \"emotional
\nmove\" made by ulemas infuriated by their recent failure to clinch
\nthe PPP chairmanship.<\/p>\n
\"Let's just implement the law and not fight for something
\nunacceptable to many people,\" Yogie said after a meeting on
\ndomestic affairs with the House of Representatives (DPR)
\nCommission II.<\/p>\n
The minister was responding to a controversial plan by ulemas
\naffiliated with Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) who are opposed to the re-
\nelection of the Moslem-based PPP's Ismail Hasan Metareum.<\/p>\n
Disgruntled ulemas spearheaded by Yusuf Hasyim and Alawy
\nMuhammad, both from East Java, say that the three existing
\ngovernment-controlled political organizations are increasingly
\nunable to defend the people's interests.<\/p>\n
Yogie questioned the philosophy behind the ulemas' move to
\nform a new party because NU has formally withdrawn from party
\npolitics since 1984.<\/p>\n
NU, Indonesia's largest organization claiming 35 million
\nmembers and once a powerful political party, decided in 1984 to
\nquit politics and focus on the economic and social welfare of its
\nmembers.<\/p>\n
Yusuf Hasyim acknowledged on Monday that his plan to start a
\nnew political party would not be easy because he had to seek
\namendment of the 1985 law, a venture that would likely be blocked
\nby not only the existing organizations but also by the Armed
\nForces (ABRI) which is also represented in the House.<\/p>\n
A member of the highest law-making body, the People's
\nConsultative Assembly (MPR), Hasyim said the initiative to form a
\nnew party came not only from NU leaders but also from groups
\ndismayed by the existing political organizations.<\/p>\n
\"The initiative has to be made public now to generate public
\ndebate and the results may be seen in the next six years,\" he
\nsaid as quoted by Antara.<\/p>\n
The ulemas' political maneuvering, which runs foul of NU's
\nformal policy, has triggered concern among government officials
\nand some Moslem groups.<\/p>\n
Minister of Religious Affairs Tarmizi Taher said yesterday
\nthat influential ulemas who control great numbers of students
\nwere being used by politicians for their personal ends.<\/p>\n
But it is also possible, he said, that the ulemas make
\nthemselves available to be used by the politicians. \"Their move
\nconfuses their followers,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The minister called on Moslems to \"use their heads\" so as not
\nto be mentally lost amid the confusing political statements from
\ntheir ulemas.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the debate among NU ulemas about what to do in the
\nwake of their failed bid to grab the PPP's top spot earlier this
\nmonth continued yesterday.<\/p>\n
In the Central Java capital of Semarang, prominent ulema Sahal
\nMahfudz said that the scholars should accept the reality and stop
\nmaking a fuss.<\/p>\n
\"It's wrong to assume that PPP's vote tally in the 1997
\ngeneral election would soar if the party is lead by an NU
\nfigure,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Sahal, one of the NU chairman's deputies, argued that Moslems
\nin general are nowadays no longer paternalistic like those in the
\n1950s when Islamic leaders were able to control the masses.<\/p>\n
\"Now, people will examine what a political organization offers
\nin its programs before deciding whether to join,\" he said.
\n(pan\/har)<\/p>",
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