Yogie withdraws remark on PPP chief<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Home Affairs Yogie S.M. is working
\nto placate the United Development Party and the feelings that
\nwere hurt last week when the minister issued a statement calling
\nthe party's chief \"sick\".<\/p>\n
According to party chairman Ismail Hasan Metareum, Yogie met
\nwith him on Saturday for a \"frank\" talk and to withdraw his
\nremarks.<\/p>\n
\"He (Yogie) reassured me that he hadn't the slightest
\nintention of offending me when he described me as sick. But he
\nsad he was unhappy with my stating that the political system had
\nsidelined the two political parties,\" Ismail Hasan told reporters
\nat his residence.<\/p>\n
The two political parties that Ismail Hasan referred to are
\nhis United Development Party (PPP) and the Indonesian Democratic
\nParty (PDI).<\/p>\n
When describing Ismail Hasan as sick, Yogie was responding to
\nIsmail Hasan's allegation that the political system dominated by
\nthe ruling Golkar party was \"marginalizing\" the PPP and PDI.<\/p>\n
Yogie's statement drew fire from PPP members, who demanded
\nthat the minister apologize. In a meeting that Yogie called on
\nFriday, Ismail Hasan was conspicuously absent, saying that he had
\nother commitments.<\/p>\n
On Friday, party supporters protested in front of PPP's
\nheadquarters, demanding that Yogie apologize. Other members from
\nprovincial and regional party branches are voicing similar
\ndemands.<\/p>\n
\"We had a frank meeting. Throughout the meeting he made the
\nenquiries and I just responded,\" Ismail said, declining to say if
\nthe minister had apologized.<\/p>\n
He said only that the minister withdrew his statement because
\nit offended him (Ismail Hasan) personally and his party.<\/p>\n
Ismail Hasan said he would first report the results of his
\none-hour meeting to his party before speaking further to the
\npress.<\/p>\n
The meeting took place only hours after senior PPP officials
\nrecommended that Ismail Hasan take up Yogie's invitation to
\nsettle any misunderstandings.<\/p>\n
\"After hearing the reports and opinions of board members, and
\ntaking into account the party's aspirations...we concluded
\nthat...Buya (Ismail Hasan) should meet the personal invitation of
\nYogie S. Memet,\" said Hamzah Haz, the chairman of the party's
\nboard after the Saturday meeting.<\/p>\n
Buya, or revered teacher, is the name by which Ismail Hasan is
\noften addressed.<\/p>\n
He added the party's board welcomed Yogie's invitation and
\nthat, \"as a good Moslem\", it would be commendable for Ismail
\nHasan to meet him.<\/p>\n
Ismail Hasan said that he and other PPP leaders would explore
\nthe meaning of Yogie's withdrawal. \"I don't say that the problem
\nhas been solved,\" he added.<\/p>\n
His widely-publicized comment that the system has been
\nmarginalizing the PPP and PDI has received strong support from
\nnumerous politicians of both parties and from independent
\npolitical observers.<\/p>\n
He said he supported the strong reactions voiced by PPP
\nmembers and said, \"They have every right to air their opinion\".<\/p>\n
He also welcomed Yogie's suggestion that he and Yogie
\nestablish a hotline to solve any differences in the future. \"It's
\na good signal that the government is willing to solve problems
\ntogether,\" he said. (rms\/anr)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/yogie-withdraws-remark-on-ppp-chief-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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