Yusril reelection causes split in PBB<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The re-election of Yusril Ihza Mahendra as
\nCrescent Star Party (PBB) chairman has brought about a split
\nwithin the party.<\/p>\n
Sixteen senior members said they would reject the results of
\nthe congress and hold a separate special congress of their own.<\/p>\n
Hartono Mardjono, representing the 16 detractors, all of whom
\nwere previously party executives, said another congress would be
\nheld in accordance with the party's statute.<\/p>\n
"We are in the preparation stage. We will invite the executive
\nboard members and all functionaries from provincial chapters and
\nbranches," he told journalists here on Monday.<\/p>\n
Hartono further claimed that the executive board --
\nestablished when the party was declared in 1998 -- is still
\nvalid.<\/p>\n
So far no date has been set for the special congress.<\/p>\n
Hartono, known as a moderate figure in the party, said he
\nsided with the dissident group because he could not agree with
\nthe violations against internal rulings during the congress which
\nended on Monday.<\/p>\n
"According to the party's statute, the first congress should
\nbe held in 2004," he pointed out.<\/p>\n
"The executive board has never held an official meeting
\nagreeing to hold congress ahead of schedule."<\/p>\n
Money<\/p>\n
Hartono even revealed that Yusril accepted a total of Rp 1.5
\nbillion from former president B.J. Habibie but has kept most of
\nthe executive board in the dark about it.<\/p>\n
"He (Yusril) accepted donations from Habibie twice, Rp 1
\nbillion for the party's national meeting in February 1999, and Rp
\n500 million for the general election in July 1999," he said.<\/p>\n
Yusril has acknowledged that he accepted Rp 1 billion from the
\nformer president but contended that he did nothing wrong as
\nregulations against such donations were only issued after he had
\nreceived the money.<\/p>\n
Abdul Qodir Djailani, a party deputy chairman, accused the
\npro-Yusril supporters of engineering the congress to their own
\nadvantage.<\/p>\n
"Yusril and the congress' organizing and steering committees
\ndid nothing to prevent the presence of 60 thugs equipped with
\nmachetes in the congress. Despite not being invited, they were
\nable to take part in the congress with an official card," he
\nsaid, claiming that the thugs were financed by Niko Lumanauw,
\nYusril's close friend in West Java.<\/p>\n
Asked to comment on the split in the party, Yusril, who was
\nre-elected as chairman and given 30 days to form a new executive
\nboard, said he regretted it.<\/p>\n
Yusril called on all sides defeated in the congress to be
\n"democratic" by accepting and respecting the results of the
\ncongress.<\/p>\n
"We should learn to accept our losses and respect the other's
\nvictory," he said. (rms\/dja)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/yusril-reelection-causes-split-in-pbb-1447893297",
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