Yogie to keep hands off PPP congress<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Home Affairs Moch. Yogie S.M.
\npromised yesterday that the government would stay out of the
\ncontest for leadership of the United Development Party (PPP)
\nwhich will take place at its congress in Jakarta in late August.<\/p>\n
Yogie, however, urged the Moslem-based party to make sure that
\nthey could elect their chairman in just one congress and not let
\nthe issue drag on, as occurred with the Indonesian Democratic
\nParty (PDI) last year.<\/p>\n
With the PPP congress nearing, the government's position
\nregarding the leadership contest in the party becomes vital.
\nHowever, government officials have resisted pressures to be
\ndragged into the battle.<\/p>\n
Yogie told reporters yesterday that the government felt that
\nthe party is mature enough to decide what was best for them.<\/p>\n
\"Why should we interfere in the congress?\" he asked. \"They
\n(PPP leaders) are adults and they are also kyai (religious
\nleaders),\" he told reporters.<\/p>\n
Yogie said the government's only \"interference\" would be in
\nproviding part of the funds necessary for the party to stage the
\ncongress and in providing the manpower to ensure security.<\/p>\n
\"The government has never had any intention of interfering,\"
\nhe said, adding that the government would maintain a low profile
\nwhile monitoring closely the congress proceedings.<\/p>\n
The congress, however, is haunted by the past experiences of
\nboth the PPP and PDI congresses, when the government's hand in
\nselection was very visible.<\/p>\n
Five years ago, Ismail Hasan Metareum was elected as chairman
\nto replace the incumbent, and also more popular, Jaelani Naro,
\nafter the government intervened.<\/p>\n
The PDI had to stage three congresses last year before
\ndeciding on Megawati Soekarnoputri, the daughter of former
\npresident Sukarno, as their leader. This move was in direct
\nopposition to the government's efforts to push for its own
\ncandidate right up to the last minute.<\/p>\n
PPP's congress, slated to begin on Aug. 28, will be opened by
\nPresident Soeharto.<\/p>\n
Tacit support<\/p>\n
The incumbent Ismail Hasan is seen as a strong candidate to
\nretain his post, counting on the support chiefly from his own
\nhandpicked leaders of the party's provincial boards. Some suggest
\nthat he also has the tacit support of the government.<\/p>\n
However, politicians identified with the Nahdlatul Ulama, by
\nfar the largest faction in the PPP, have vowed to wrest the
\nparty's leadership.<\/p>\n
They are currently preparing a number of their own candidates,
\nincluding the popular and widely respected Jusuf Hasjim and
\nMatori Abdul Jalil, the current PPP secretary general.<\/p>\n
There are also increasing pressures from within the party to
\nelect a more popular figure, to match the charisma of Megawati of
\nthe PDI -- a move which they say is vital if PPP is to retain its
\nsecond position at the next general election in 1997. The
\nleadership of Ismail Hasan, while considered successful, has been
\ntoo conservative for many PPP members.<\/p>\n
Organizers of the congress estimate that the party needs Rp
\n1.5 billion to stage the gathering and so far they have raised
\nonly Rp 200 million, including Rp 10 million chipped in by the
\ngovernment. (par)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/yogie-to-keep-hands-off-ppp-congress-1447893297",
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